TUBERCULOSIS LYMPHADENITIS IN SLAUGHTERED SWINE FROM SAO-PAULO STATE (BRAZIL) - GROSS LESIONS, HISTOPATHOLOGY AND DEMONSTRATION OF MYCOBACTERIA

Introduction As the occurrence of tuberculosis lymphadenitis in swine constitutes a public health risk, especially in immunosuppressed indiv iduals, the distribution of tuberculoid lesions and the presence of mi cobacteria in lymphonodes and hepatic and muscular tissue in swine for slaughter, in the State of S. Paulo, SP (Brazil), in the period from 1993 to 1994, were studied. Material e Method Tuberculous lesions in 6 0 carcasses of swine, slaughtered at abattoirs during the period 1993- 1994, were studied. When macroscopic lesions were observed, a represen tative sampling of lymphnodes, hepatic and muscular tissues (masseter and diaphragm) were examined using histophatological and micobacterial isolation techniques. Results The macroscopic lesions were found pred ominantly in mesenteric lymphnodes. The MAI Complex (M. avium-intracel lulare) was isolated mainly in the carcass group that showed lesions a nd was not found in the control group. Microorganisms of the MAI Compl ex were not isolated from hepatic and muscular tissues.Conclusion No c lear relationship between the type of mycobacteria isolated and the ma croscopic lesions observed during the carcass inspection was found.