ACTINOMYCOSIS— LUMP JAW 415 



tissue proliferation follows or multiple circumscribed actino- 

 mycotic foci result. In swine sharp-pointed plant particles 

 may enter the crypts of the tonsils and set up infection. 

 Otherwise swine are most commonly infected through skin 

 wounds. Sows with pendent udders pasturing on stubble 

 fields often suffer from udder actinomycosis, and pigs are 

 infected through castration wounds, especially if allowed 

 access to straw stacks. The infection of internal organs may 

 be primary or secondary. Actinomycosis may involve the 

 udder, spermatic cord of castrated animals, vagina and via 

 metastasis the liver, spleen, muscle, and brain. A generaliza- 

 tion of the process is, however, rare. 



Symptoms. — Cattle. — Actinomycosis in cattle usually 

 appears in one of the following forms: (a) Enlargements 

 about the head, particularly in the neighborhood of the 

 lower jaw (angle' and between rami) and in the parotid 

 region — the so-called actinomycoma. (b) An affection of the 

 tongue, (c) Disease of the lips, (d) In the form of growths 

 in the mouth, pharynx, and larynx. 



(a) In young cattle the enlargement may appear as an 

 abscess which when evacuated is found to contain, mingled 

 with the pus, numbers of pale or sulphur-yellow-colored 

 granules (fungi). Such an enlargement presents the char- 

 acterists of a subacute abscess. The connective-tissue 

 growths are firm, non-sensitive, movable, the overlying skin 

 partially adherent; their development is slow. In time 

 they undergo puriform softening and perforate at one or 

 more points. Out of the sinuses is discharged a viscid, 

 mucopurulent exudate. If the bone is involved, the infection 

 leads to periostitis, rarefying osteitis and osteomyelitis. 

 The enlargement is hard, non-movable somewhat sensitive 

 and usually involves one or more of the premolar teeth; it 

 also tends to perforate. At first several openings appear 

 which later merge into one large crater-like cavity from which 

 issues a foul-smelling discolored discharge. 



(6) If the tongue is seriously involved prehension and 

 mastication are interfered with. It will be noted in the 

 earlier stages that the patient does not lick the corners of 

 the manger or feed-box clean, as the tongue is stiff and 



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