ASSOCIATION OF CILIA-ASSOCIATED RESPIRATORY (CAR) BACILLUS WITH NATURAL CHRONIC TRACHEITIS IN GOATS

A histological, histochemical and immunohistological study of the resp iratory tract of 83 slaughtered goats (50 adults and 33 kids) is descr ibed. Cilia-associated respiratory (CAR) bacillus was detected by mean s of the Warthin Starry method in the tracheal epithelium of seven (21 .2%) of the kids and 16 (32%) of the adult goats. A chronic diffuse tr acheitis characterized by mixed lymphocyte and plasma-cell infiltratio n was found in all seven kids and in 17 adults, including the 16 infec ted with the CAR bacillus. Although not proved, it is possible that th e CAR bacillus caused the chronic tracheitis. Immunohistochemical resu lts suggested that the caprine CAR bacillus was closely related to the rabbit CAR bacillus. (C) 1997 W.B. Saunders Company Limited.