GRANULOMATOSIS CAUSED BY STREPTOMYCES-GAL TIERI IN A DOG

A generalized granulomatic disease observed in an 8 weeks old dog has been reported. The disease started with the swelling of the right prae axillar lymph node that spread onto the jugular fossa, right front leg (Fig. 1), sternal region and side of chest. Ulcers developed in the s kin and pus issued from them. The animal was exterminated due to the w orsening of general state and unsuccessful treatment. The pathological examination revealed a hen egg sized lymph node and infiltration of s ubcutaneous tissues by grey-white coloured proliferative tissue. Tumor -like proliferative nodes vere found in the kidneys, lungs (Fig. 2) an d mediastinal lymph nodes. Organs infiltrated with a proliferative tis sue showed a locular structure. Figs 3 and 4 show the histologic struc ture of a lymph node. In one the coagulative, in the other the prolife rative processes dominated. Bacterium strains isolated from the altere d areas were determined as Streptomyces galtieri (Figs 5 and 6). The i solated strains proved to be pathogenic for guinea pigs (Fig. 7) and i mmune-suppressed mice. Besides the above mentioned alterations, canine distemper was also diagnosed. The authors have supposed that immune-s uppressive effect of canine distemper played a role in the development of a generalized disease caused by streptomyces known as a saprophyti c microorganism.