PATHOLOGY AND BRONCHOSCOPIC STUDIES IN MYCOPLASMA-MYCOIDES SUBSP CAPRI INFECTION IN GOATS

Pleuropneumonic symptoms and lesions were produced in goats experiment ally infected with bronchoscopic inoculations of Mycoplasma mycoides s ubsp. capri. Hyperthermia (104-degrees-106-degrees-F) and respiratory distress with coarse moist rales, besides dullness, depression and cou ghing resulted due to infection. Bronchoalveolar lavage cytology revea led mild neutrophilia (58%), lymphocytopenia (20%) and mild monocytosi s (17%) indicating strong correlation with haematological findings. Ha emograms were depressed. Pathonanatomically the apical and intermediat e lobes were the most frequently affected. The pleura and interlobular septa were oedematous, variously thickened with fibrinous exudate and infiltrated with neutrophils and mononuclear cells. The alveoli and b ronchioles were usually filled with dense aggregates of neutrophils an d macrophages. Mediastinal and bronchial lymphnodes revealed neutrophi lic infiltration in subcapsular and medullary sinuses, besides congest ion. Other visceral organs revealed vascular congestion.