Histologic and immunochemical study of the pathogenesis of heartwater (Cowdria ruminantium infection) in goats and mice

Am J Vet Res. 1990 Sep;51(9):1476-80.

Abstract

Eleven adult goats and 32 adult outbred mice were inoculated IV with Cowdria ruminantium-infected blood (Kwanyanga isolate), monitored clinically, then serially euthanatized. Predominant clinical signs of disease in goats were depression, head tremors, seizures, and dyspnea. In mice, dyspnea and depression were the only clinical signs of disease noticed. Tissues were examined histologically and immunohistochemically for C ruminantium colonies or antigen. In goats, C ruminantium was detected only in endothelial cells of the brain, even though gross and microscopic lesions were confined to the thorax. In mice, C ruminantium was detected only in endothelial cells of the heart and lungs.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dyspnea / pathology
  • Dyspnea / veterinary
  • Female
  • Goat Diseases / blood
  • Goat Diseases / etiology
  • Goat Diseases / pathology*
  • Goats
  • Heartwater Disease / blood
  • Heartwater Disease / etiology
  • Heartwater Disease / pathology*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Neutrophils / microbiology
  • Rickettsiaceae
  • Seizures / pathology
  • Seizures / veterinary
  • Time Factors
  • Tremor / pathology
  • Tremor / veterinary