Bacteriological and pathological investigations of brucellosis in female goats

The present study was carried out for isolation, identification and associated pathology of Brucella in goats in and around Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. A total of 25 uterine swab samples were collected from adult female goats during post mortem examination and subjected to culture of Brucella spp. Representative tissue samples (uterus, supramammary lymph node, spleen and liver) were collected for histopathological examination. Out of the 25 uterine samples examined, Brucella isolates were obtained from 03 (12%) of the samples, which were confirmed as Brucella spp based on their cultural, morphological and biochemical characters. All the isolates were sensitive for rifampicin, ceftriaxone, enrofloxacin and resistant to penicillin and oxytetracycline. Grossly, the uterus was flabby with congested mucosa, focal erosions and small raised whitish foci scattered on the mucosa and moderate amount of pale thin, sticky necrotic debris in the lumen and thickened uterine wall. Microscopically, sections of uterus revealed necrosis and sloughing of the superficial layer of mucosa, oedema and infiltration of mononuclear cells in the endometrium and periglandular area along with perivascular fibrosis and vacuolation in the myometrial cells. Supramammary lymphnode showed lymphoid depletion with infiltration of neutrophils and histiocytes. Lymphoid depletion in the white pulp of spleen along with thickening of connective tissue capsule and trabaculae were also observed. Hemorrhage and leukocytic infiltration in the liver was evident Results of our study conclude that Brucella spp is fairly prevalent among goats of Jabalpur region and brucella infection caused the pronounced pathological changes in genital and lymphoid organs in goats.