LISTERIA-INNOCUA ISOLATED FROM A CASE OF OVINE MENINGOENCEPHALITIS

This paper reports a naturally occurring case of meningoencephalitis a ssociated with Listeria innocua in a Polled-Dorset ewe. The ewe was on e of a housed group of twenty-five, fed ad lib. on wrapped baled silag e. L. innocua was isolated after one week from cold enrichment culture of brain and pituitary tissue. Its identity was confirmed by conventi onal biochemical tests, API Listeria (BioMerieux UK Ltd), the absence of hly and prfA genes using PCR assay and sequencing two variable regi ons of 16S rDNA. Histological examination demonstrated lesions of vasc ulitis and perivascular cuffing in the midbrain which were consistent with listeriosis although limited in distribution and severity.