Sequential clinical, haematological, biochemical, immunopathological and histopathological alterations in buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis) intravenously infected with Absidia corymbifera

Absidiosis was produced experimentally in 18 buffalo calves by intravenous inoculation of spores of Absidia corymbifera. Infected animals exhibited du llness, depression, partial anorexia and an initial pyrexia and coughing du ring the first week and two animals died on each of 9, 13 and 16 days post infection (DPI). The haemoglobin concentration and total erythrocyte count showed no appreciable change from their basal values at any stage of the ex periment. However, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and total leukocyte c ount increased significantly in the infected animals. The differential leuk ocyte count revealed a relative neutrophilia from 5 to 20 DPI. There was a significant increase in the serum total proteins, blood urea nitrogen, crea tinine, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, serum alkalin e phosphatase, total immunoglobulins and circulating immune complexes in th e infected animals as compared to the controls. In the sera of the infected animals, specific Absidia corymbifera IgM and IgG antibodies were detected from 3 DPI to 6 DPI respectively by Dot-EIA. Type I and type III skin hype rsensitivity were detected from 10 DPI and type IV hypersensitivity from 15 DPI onwards. The gross and microscopic pathological lesions were seen main ly in the lungs, in all except one of the affected animals. This animal die d 9 DPI and mycotic granulomas were also seen in its heart and kidneys. The microscopic lesions in the lung took the form of well-developed granulomas .