Caseous lymphadenitis: A case of sheep and its management in Ethiopia

Abstract

Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) is a contagious and chronic bacterial disease of animals that affects the lymphatic system with the  formation of abscesses. This case report documents a sheep diagnosed with CLA that was brought to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of  Addis Ababa University College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture (AAU-CVMA), Bishoftu on March 06/2022. The primary complaint  was weakness, anorexia, and a slight, fluctuating, sickleshaped, enlarged swelling in the neck region between the ear and jaws, which developed due to a laceration by a wire on the fence. Physical and clinical examination revealed increased body temperature (40.7oC)  and respiratory rate (44 breaths/min) and mildly fluctuating swelling on lymph nodes. Anorexia, coughing, general ill thrift, exercise  intolerance, and enlargement of subcutaneous tissues and lymph nodes around the neck region were observed. Aspiration of the  swelling revealed thick, pale greenish-cheesy pus. Using the Ethiopian Differential Diagnosis and Information Environment App-based diagnosis and bacterial culture of the pus revealed the case as CLA. It was managed by surgical removal of the pus, topical wound spray,  and systemic administration of fortified procaine penicillin for five days intramuscular and once topically on the site, respectively. The  sheep recovered after a month. In conclusion, CLA is a challenging suppurative disease of sheep and goats that can be successfully  treated by topical wound management and systemic penicillin therapy.