Abstract
Clostridium haemolyticum causes bacillary hemoglobinuria (BH), an infectious and usually fatal disease that occurs mostly in cattle, which is clinically characterized by jaundice, hemoglobinuria, and anemia. The trematode Fasciola hepatica has been commonly reported as the main predisposing factor that triggers this condition. The authors evaluated 20 naturally occurring cases of bovine BH to characterize the pathology and pathogenesis of the disease. Grossly, the most consistent finding was a large, frequently single focus of necrosis surrounded by a red to purple halo, observed most frequently on the parietal surface of the right and left hepatic lobes. Other findings were jaundice, dark-brown discoloration of kidneys, and red urine in the urinary bladder. Microscopically, characteristic lesions were locally extensive, necrotizing hepatitis with thrombosis and numerous intralesional Gram-positive rod-shaped bacteria, and acute renal tubular necrosis. By immunohistochemistry, many hepatocytes outside the necrotic focus in the liver were positive for activated caspase 3, suggesting that those cells were undergoing apoptosis. Ultrastructural evaluation revealed hepatocyte necrosis, hemolysis, and clumps of vegetative and sporulating bacilli within the liver. Polymerase chain reaction for the C. haemolyticum beta toxin gene was positive in randomly selected liver samples. No gross or microscopic lesions indicative of fascioliasis were detected in the liver of any animal, suggesting that other yet undetermined predisposing factors were associated with these cases of BH.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 457-466 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Veterinary Pathology |
| Volume | 54 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 1 2017 |
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Keywords
- bacillary hemoglobinuria
- beta toxin
- bovine
- cattle
- Clostridium haemolyticum
- liver
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- veterinary(all)
Cite this
Pathology of Naturally Occurring Bacillary Hemoglobinuria in Cattle. / Navarro, M. A.; Dutra, F.; Briano, C.; Romero, A.; Persiani, M.; Freedman, J. C.; Morrell, E.; Beingesser, J.; Uzal, Francisco A.
In: Veterinary Pathology, Vol. 54, No. 3, 01.05.2017, p. 457-466.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Pathology of Naturally Occurring Bacillary Hemoglobinuria in Cattle
AU - Navarro, M. A.
AU - Dutra, F.
AU - Briano, C.
AU - Romero, A.
AU - Persiani, M.
AU - Freedman, J. C.
AU - Morrell, E.
AU - Beingesser, J.
AU - Uzal, Francisco A
PY - 2017/5/1
Y1 - 2017/5/1
N2 - Clostridium haemolyticum causes bacillary hemoglobinuria (BH), an infectious and usually fatal disease that occurs mostly in cattle, which is clinically characterized by jaundice, hemoglobinuria, and anemia. The trematode Fasciola hepatica has been commonly reported as the main predisposing factor that triggers this condition. The authors evaluated 20 naturally occurring cases of bovine BH to characterize the pathology and pathogenesis of the disease. Grossly, the most consistent finding was a large, frequently single focus of necrosis surrounded by a red to purple halo, observed most frequently on the parietal surface of the right and left hepatic lobes. Other findings were jaundice, dark-brown discoloration of kidneys, and red urine in the urinary bladder. Microscopically, characteristic lesions were locally extensive, necrotizing hepatitis with thrombosis and numerous intralesional Gram-positive rod-shaped bacteria, and acute renal tubular necrosis. By immunohistochemistry, many hepatocytes outside the necrotic focus in the liver were positive for activated caspase 3, suggesting that those cells were undergoing apoptosis. Ultrastructural evaluation revealed hepatocyte necrosis, hemolysis, and clumps of vegetative and sporulating bacilli within the liver. Polymerase chain reaction for the C. haemolyticum beta toxin gene was positive in randomly selected liver samples. No gross or microscopic lesions indicative of fascioliasis were detected in the liver of any animal, suggesting that other yet undetermined predisposing factors were associated with these cases of BH.
AB - Clostridium haemolyticum causes bacillary hemoglobinuria (BH), an infectious and usually fatal disease that occurs mostly in cattle, which is clinically characterized by jaundice, hemoglobinuria, and anemia. The trematode Fasciola hepatica has been commonly reported as the main predisposing factor that triggers this condition. The authors evaluated 20 naturally occurring cases of bovine BH to characterize the pathology and pathogenesis of the disease. Grossly, the most consistent finding was a large, frequently single focus of necrosis surrounded by a red to purple halo, observed most frequently on the parietal surface of the right and left hepatic lobes. Other findings were jaundice, dark-brown discoloration of kidneys, and red urine in the urinary bladder. Microscopically, characteristic lesions were locally extensive, necrotizing hepatitis with thrombosis and numerous intralesional Gram-positive rod-shaped bacteria, and acute renal tubular necrosis. By immunohistochemistry, many hepatocytes outside the necrotic focus in the liver were positive for activated caspase 3, suggesting that those cells were undergoing apoptosis. Ultrastructural evaluation revealed hepatocyte necrosis, hemolysis, and clumps of vegetative and sporulating bacilli within the liver. Polymerase chain reaction for the C. haemolyticum beta toxin gene was positive in randomly selected liver samples. No gross or microscopic lesions indicative of fascioliasis were detected in the liver of any animal, suggesting that other yet undetermined predisposing factors were associated with these cases of BH.
KW - bacillary hemoglobinuria
KW - beta toxin
KW - bovine
KW - cattle
KW - Clostridium haemolyticum
KW - liver
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85018938807&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85018938807&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0300985816688945
DO - 10.1177/0300985816688945
M3 - Article
C2 - 28438111
AN - SCOPUS:85018938807
VL - 54
SP - 457
EP - 466
JO - Veterinary Pathology
JF - Veterinary Pathology
SN - 0300-9858
IS - 3
ER -