MASTITE GANGRENOSA EM UMA OVELHA

Abstract

Mastitis is a commonly occurring disease in dairy cows, especially in high-producing animals. It is characterized by inflammation of the mammary gland parenchyma, independent of the cause, which may occur swelling, temperature elevation, pain and hardening in many clinical cases. The gangrenous form is characterized as the most severe among the types of mastitis, being commonly seen in infections caused by Staphylococcus sp, often resulting in partial or total loss of mammary gland or animal death. The present work aims to describe a case of gangrenous mastitis in a ewe. A five-year-old female Santa Inês ewe was attended at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Paraiba, Areia-PB, with a clinical history of neurological symptomatology compatible with brain lesions and cranial nerve deficits, as well as head gestures, disorientation and depression. The animal died and was sent to necropsy and submitted to macroscopic evaluation, followed by histopathological evaluation. Macroscopically, it was observed that the adrenal glands presented diffuse cortical hemorrhage interpreted as the "Waterhouse-Friderichsen Syndrome". The skin of the mammary gland showed detachment. The mammary gland showed firm aspect, and a bluish to blackened appearance, extensively hemorrhagic with serosanguinolent exudation. The lungs showed extensive areas of hemorrhage in the caudoventral and cranial lobes, as well as foam and alimentary content in the bronchi. The liver was reddish with a caseous abscess encapsulated by fibrous tissue. Microscopically, the mammary gland showed extensive necrosis associated with basophilic bacterial clusters, neutrophil infiltration, marked congestion and hemorrhage. The understanding of this disease is important for prevention and a precise diagnosis.