REPORT OF A CASE OF PYOGENIC ARTHRITIS-ASSOCIATED WITH ACTINOMYCES-PYOGENES IN A CHAMOIS (RUPICAPRA-PYRENAICA)

A case of pyogenic arthritis associated to an Actinomyces pyogenes inf ection in a chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica) is described. The animal was a 5-year-old female that had been seen alone in a wooded area close t o a small town in November 1995, and was lame on one front limb. One m onth later, it was seen again in a nearby area. Its lameness had worse ned and it knuckled on both front limbs while eating. Its nutrition st atus had worsened considerably. On 8 January 1996 the animal was found dead. It was cachectic, its metatarsal/metacarpal-digital joints were all swollen and its hoofs were longer than normal. The microbiologica l study of the samples obtained showed a large number of beta-haemolyt ic colonies subsequently identified as Actinomyces pyogenes. Obligate anaerobic bacteria were not isolated from the samples.