Pseudotuberculosis of Sheep. 



633 



Literature. Pfeififer, ttb. d. ba?illare pseuds tub. bei. Nagetieren, Leipsie 1889. 

 — Preisz, A. P., 1894. VIII. 231. — Bongert, Z. f. Hyg., 1901, XXXV. 449 (Lit.). — 

 Cagnetto, A. P., 1905. XIX. 449 (Lit.). — Glasser, A. f. Tk., 1909. XXXV. 471 

 (Lit). 



(a) Pseudotuberculosis of Sheep. Pseudotuberculosis ovum. 



{Cheesy Broncho-pneumonia; Llymphadenitis caseosa ovum.) 



Occurrence. The disease occurs in some flocks in the form 

 of an epizootic. Thus Turski observed it in 44 sheep in a 

 herd of 150 in western Prussia ; von Zeeb in the abattoir of 

 Langensalza, in small herds frequently every animal being 

 affected. The disease has also been reported from the provinces 

 of Hanover and Silesia. Cherri & Bull observed the disease 

 in the abattoirs in Melbourne, Australia, in from 15 to 70% 

 of all slaughtered sheep. According to Norgaard & Mohler 

 it is very common in the western United States of North 

 America and according to Sivori it is very frequent in adult 

 sheep in the Argentine Republic (the last named authorities 

 have furnished exact anatomical and clinical descriptions of 

 the disease). 



Etiology. The disease is caused by the Bacillus pseudo- 

 tuberculosis ovis (bacillus of Preisz and Nocard). This appears 

 as a delicate immotile rod (Fig. 97), which is non-sporulating 

 and easily stained with aqueous aniline dyes as well as according 

 to Gram 's method. In cultures the bacilli are somewhat thicker 

 and longer and have a tendency to develop oval, club-shaped 

 and pear-shaped forms which appear cross-striated when 

 stained. 



Cultivation. This facultative aerobic 

 bacillus thrives only at body temperature 

 (according to Carre & Bigoteau, also at 

 room temperature) ; on agar it forms gray 

 or yellowish-white colonies which resemble 

 minute scales and which are not readily 

 emulsified ; in the deep portions of the me- 

 dium they form a white streak, rather thick 

 above and attenuated below, gradually end- 

 ing in minute white points; in bouillon 

 small granules develop on the bottom of the 

 vessel while the surface of the liquid is 

 covered with a white, rigid membrane ; on 

 coagulated blood serum the areas surround- 

 ing the colonies liquefy and become yellow- 

 ish in color ; no growth takes place on po- 

 tatoes ; it causes fermentation of grape sugar, does not produce indol or 

 phenol. Cultures remain alive and virulent for months. 



Fig. 97. Bac. pseudotubercu- 

 losis ovis. Agar culture ; Gram's 

 Stain. 



Pathogenicity. In sheep the subcutaneous inoculation of 

 the pure culture may produce only a local cheesy focus which 

 will break, discharge its contents and heal, or there results 

 extensive swelling of the regional lymph glands, whereupon 



