The Cutting Edge Veterinary Podcast

STUDENTS: Emma Mandolesi-Kahanyshyn, Sarah Kulle and Allison Kwantes

FACULTY MENTORS: Drs. Brielle Rosa and Karen Liljebjelke

Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) is a chronic, highly infectious disease of economic importance found worldwide in small ruminants. Economic consequences include carcass condemnation, decreased production, reproductive losses, and death. The pathological agent, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, targets the lymphatic system and can cause superficial and/or visceral lymphadenopathy characterized by caseous abscessation. Once an individual is infected, the disease is difficult to fully eliminate and puts the entire herd at risk for infection. The most widely accepted control measures for CLA include treatment of valuable individuals, aggressive culling, implementation of strong biosecurity protocols, and vaccination. Traditionally, CLA lesions are treated by open drainage and lavage, posing a large risk for environmental contamination due to the pathogen’s hardiness. In this review, we investigate and compare open and closed-system lesion management, with a focus on the efficacy of antimicrobials such as penicillin, oxytetracycline, and tulathromycin in closed-system treatment strategies for reducing the risk of environmental contamination. The published literature was examined to determine the susceptibility of C. pseudotuberculosis to each of the stated antibiotics, as well as the benefits and risks to each treatment strategy. Additionally, we also investigate the availability and effectiveness of vaccination for the treatment and prevention of CLA.