Jkn. Kuria et al., Caseous lymphadenitis in goats: The pathogenesis, incubation period and serological response after experimental infection, VET RES COM, 25(2), 2001, pp. 89-97
Twenty goats, in two groups of 10, were injected intradermally with Coryneb
acterium pseudotuberculosis. The doses of infection were 1 x 10(5) and 5 x
10(4) colony-forming units (cfu) for groups 1 and 2, respectively. Thereaft
er, a goat from each group was killed every 2-3 days and examined for gross
and microscopic caseous lesions in the draining lymph nodes. Bands or zone
s of macrophages and polymorphonuclear granulocytes were observed microscop
ically on the second day of infection in both groups. Gross caseous lesions
were observed from days 8 and 9 of infection, respectively. Positive bacte
rial agglutination test and haemolysis inhibition test titres were detected
after 15-17 days and 20-25 days of infection, respectively. These results
indicated that caseous lymphadenitis is a subacute disease with an incubati
on period of 8-9 days, but that it is not detectable serologically until af
ter 15 days of infection.