Pathological and Microbiological Study of Multiple Hepatic Abscesses in Barbari Goat

A carcass of an eleven months old Barbari female goat was presented for post-mortem examination in the post-mortem house of Division of Animal Health, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. The external appearance of the carcass was weak and emaciated. Necropsy revealed enlarged liver with multiple greyish white, round to oval spherical nodules (1-2 cm in diameter) over the diaphragmatic, right and left lobes yielding thick creamy yellow pus upon incision. Study portrayed isolation and confirmation of causative agent by microbiological, histopathological and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). On histopathology of the affected tissue, severe hepatic destruction and hepatocytes as icebergs in the sea of inflammatory cells and bile duct hyperplasia were recorded. Microbiological examination revealed E. coli showing metallic sheen on EMB and hemolytic colony on blood agar, while in microscopy, gram negative coccobacilli were observed. As the liver is the chief organ of the body and is exposed to so many toxic and non-toxic insults which cause potential damage to its functions. Hematogenous transmission of E. coli affecting the vital organs is common in neonates causing colisepticaemia, but in the current study adult goat showed multiple abscess in liver and the causative agent has been confirmed as E. coli using species specific PCR and pathotyping multiplex PCR for identification of virulence genes. The present study emphasized the need for identification of causative micro-organisms for rational therapy to prevent the economic loss and life of animals and at the same time to document various pathological affections caused by E. coli on goats.