BACKGROUND: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the etiological agent of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA), a chronic and very common disease in sheep and goats, which can lead to severe economic losses in the livestock industry.OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of CLA in sheep in Kurdistan province of Iran using phenotypic and molecular methods, and assess the antibiotic resistance of isolated Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis.METHODS: In this study, from September to March 2022, 270 samples of skin abscesses were collected from sheep in livestock farms of Kurdistan province. Immediately, using the cold chain system, the samples were transferred to the microbiology laboratory of the Faculty of Medicine at Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. Identification of isolates was done using biochemical tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The antibiotic resistance of the isolates was examined using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method.RESULTS: Based on biochemical tests, out of 270 samples, 82 suspected to have Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Out 82 samples, the presence of bacteria was confirmed in 76 samples by the PCR. The antibiotic sensitivity test showed that the isolates had high sensitivity to doxycycline and ceftriaxone and high resistance to streptomycin and kanamycin.CONCLUSIONS: The CLA has a high prevalence in sheep in Kurdistan province. According to high resistance rate of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis to streptomycin and kanamycin, it recommended to avoid treatment of CLA cases with these antibiotics.

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the causative agent of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) a contagious and infectious disease in smallruminants. This report describes a case of CLA in a Boer cross goat infected with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. The manifestation of abscess in the superficial lymph node presented as a mass ofapproximately 5 cm by 5 cm in diameter at the base of the ear. The mass was solid and non-movable upon palpation. The mass was incised and the caseous material was aspirated and sent to the bacteriologylaboratory where Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis was isolated. Thewound was cleaned and flushed with diluted chlorhexidine and iodine solutions daily. This procedure aids in the complete healing of the wound after a few weeks. However, the agent of the disease persistsin the animal in its entire life and culling is recommended to prevent the spread of the disease in the herd.

The small ruminant industry in Malaysia is plagued by several significant problems related to health and management. Due to the hot, wet tropical climate, parasitic, bacterial and viral diseases are rampant and conveniently spread and enhanced by poor management. The Veterinary Research Institute has initiated a working group to
identify and control critical diseases in small ruminants as an educational cum advisory programme for farmers on the lower economic rung so that productivity and profits may be heightened. Farms are attended to base on the complaint of high mortality and morbidity, whereby a complete and holistic approach to disease control is taken. All the farms sampled were in the vicinity of the laboratory
that is within 150 km radius. Samples collected were faeces, blood (serum and whole blood) and nasal swabs as well as water and feed samples. A questionnaire on the management practices as well as
history of the farm was recorded. Tests on all samples were conducted according to routine procedures. Results from this study
on 7 farms involving 175 goats and sheep revealed that the common parasitic diseases encountered are helminthiasis, coccidiosis and blood protozoans. More than 80% of the animals showed strongyle and coccidial infections. The prominent bacterial infections are Caseous Lymphadenitis (34.3%), Brucellosis (Brucella melitensis), Leptospirosis (1.7%), Melliodosis and QFever whereas the viral diseases are Caprine Arthiritis Encephalitis (1.1%) and Blue Tongue (15.4%). Early detection for these diseases is critical so that production losses can be minimised. Poor nutrition and hygiene is a contributing factor for the high incidence of disease in small
ruminants. Farmer awareness on latest farming methods and services provided also contributes to general wellbeing of animals. One of the outcomes of this programme is to create awareness and getting farmers to be independent and confident in problem solving with regards to management and disease in their herds.