Actinobacillosis in bovine caesarean sections

Clinic of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent, Belgium.

An infection with Actinobacillus lignieresii, which was spread by a veterinary surgeon, caused problems after caesarean sections in cows on several farms. The wounds became hard about six weeks after the operation, and a few weeks later small abscesses developed and later the wounds were covered with small and large granulomas. The general health of about 20 per cent of the affected cows was poor and in these cows multiple granulomas could be detected in the abdomen by rectal palpation.