25/07/2025
🦠 Actinomycosis in Animals is also known as "A Silent Invader"
Actinomycosis is a chronic, suppurative, and granulomatous infection that primarily affects cattle, equines, and occasionally other species. It's often referred to as “Lumpy Jaw” in bovines due to its characteristic swelling of the jawbones.
🔬 Causative Agent:
The disease is most commonly caused by "Actinomyces bovis" — a Gram-positive, filamentous, anaerobic bacterium that is part of the normal flora of the oral cavity and upper digestive tract.
🧫 Pathogenesis:
Infection occurs when Actinomyces bovis gains entry into deeper tissues through oral mucosal wounds, often caused by rough feed, dental eruption, or trauma. The organism establishes a chronic, pyogranulomatous reaction involving fibrous tissue and bone. The hallmark is abscess formation with sulfur granules.
📌 Signs and Symptoms :
→ Hard, immovable swellings on the jaw (mandible/maxilla)
→Discharging sinuses with yellow “sulfur granules”
→Dysphagia (difficulty in eating)
→Weight loss due to reduced feed intake
→No systemic fever unless secondary infections occur
💊 Treatment:
1. Iodine therapy: Sodium iodide IV (in cattle), repeated weekly
2. Antibiotics: Long-acting penicillin or oxytetracycline
3. Surgical drainage or curettage may help in advanced cases.
📢 Veterinary Insight:
Actinomycosis is not contagious but can significantly impact animal welfare and productivity. Early recognition and treatment are key to preventing irreversible damage.
Animal Wellness Center
