Bacteriologic and Histopathologic Studies in Pneumonic Lambs in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria

Abstract

Mortality in lambs is known to be caused by pneumonia and other bacterial agents. Lamb pneumonia is an infectious disease of young lambs caused primarily by the bacterial organism Pasterella haemolytica. Lung samples recovered from dead lambs were tested bacteriologically and histopathologically to determine the associated bacterial agents as well as the type of pneumonia involved. Bacteria recovered from the samples included Pasteurella multocida, Staphyllococcus aureus, Arcanobacterium pyogenes, Closridium perfringes, Streptococcus, and Klebsiella pneumonia. Histopathologically, three types of pneumonia were recognized namely: Interstitial (46.51%), bronchopneumonia (32.56%) and fibrinous pneumonia (20.93%). It was observed that pneumonia is a major cause of mortality in lambs in Sokoto and pathogenic bacteria, particularly P. multocida are the most important bacterial agents in the pathogenesis of lamb pneumonia. It was also concluded that pneumonia affecting lambs can vary depending on agents of infection, environment, management, immune status of the lamb as well as treatment regime.