Jejunal Granuloma Associated with an Argyrophilic Gram-Negative Non-Segmented Filamentous Bacterium in a Holstein Cow

A retrospective review of small intestinal intussusception in 126 cattle in Switzerland

Background

Intussusception is a form of ileus of the intestines in which an oral intestinal segment slides into the adjacent aboral intestinal segment, causing obstruction of the bowel.

Methods

We analysed the medical records of 126 cattle with intussusception of the small intestine.

Results

Demeanour and appetite were abnormal in 123 cattle. Non-specific signs of pain occurred in 26.2%, signs of visceral pain in 46.8% and signs of parietal pain in 56.4%. Intestinal motility was decreased or absent in 93.7% of the cattle. The most common findings of transrectal palpation were rumen dilation (37.3%) and dilated small intestines (24.6%). In 96% of the cattle, the rectum was empty or contained little faeces. The principal laboratory findings were hypokalaemia (89.6%), hypocalcaemia (76.5%), base excess (72.9%), hypochloraemia (71.8%), azotaemia (62.1%) and haemoconcentration (61.1%). The main ultrasonographic findings were reduced or absent intestinal motility (98.2%) and dilated small intestines (96.0%). A diagnosis of ileus was made in 87.8% and a diagnosis of ileus attributable to intussusception was made in another 9.8%. Right-flank laparotomy was carried out in 114 cattle. Fifty-six (44.4%) cows were discharged.

Conclusions

Clinical findings of intussusception in cattle are often non-specific. Ultrasonography may be required to diagnose ileus.

Multifocal granulomatous jejunitis associated with an argyrophilic gram-positive segmented filamentous bacterium in a Holstein cow

Multifocal, raised, ulcerated firm nodules accompanied by an intussuscepted area were detected in the jejunum of an 8-year-old Holstein cow. The cut surfaces of the nodules were yellow-white. Microscopically, the lamina propria was expanded by an intense infiltration of epithelioid cells, multinucleate giant cells, macrophages, lymphocytes and neutrophils. Numerous bacteria were found within the granulomatous lesions. These were argyrophilic, gram-positive, periodic acid-Schiff-positive, segmented, rarely branched, elongate filamentous bacteria (2-28 μm in length, 0.2-0.35 μm in diameter). Ultrastructurally, a cell wall with an electron-transparent zone was detected. The present pathogen was clearly different from the argyrophilic, gram-negative, non-segmented, filamentous bacterium previously reported in a Holstein cow with jejunal granuloma. Comparative 16S rDNA gene sequencing analysis revealed that the organism was an unpublished species (GenBank accession number AB539875). This is the first report of bovine jejunal granuloma associated with an argyrophilic gram-positive segmented filamentous bacterium.