Botryomycosis
Staphylococcosis
Definition
• It is a chronic granulomatous infectious
disease of equine, caused by Staph. sp.,
characterized by development of
granuloma commonly located on the limbs
near the point of elbow or scrotum
(spermatic cord fistulae).
Etiology
• Staph. sp is commonly isolated from the lesions.
There are reports on isolation of Actinomyces
viscous.
Epidemiology
• Distribution: The disease present where
equine is raised.
• Animal susceptibility: Horses, donkeys and
mules.
• Mode of transmission: The disease is present
following trauma or contamination of cutaneous
wounds as castration wounds.
Clinical signs
• Morbidity and mortality rates are low.
• There are cutaneous lesions appear in form of papules, nodules (non
pruritic and non healing), crusts and ulcers with formation of
draining tracts.
• The lesion may be large solitary and resembles a tumor, the size of
lesion may up to 10-20 cm in diameter, rupture of nodules discharge
pus which is sticky mucoid and yellow and has whitish yellow seed
or granules which is packed masses of Staph. sp.
• This lesion may be present on shoulder, neck, withers, ventral
abdomen, udder, spermatic cord and limbs.
• The lesion on spermatic cord causes scirrhous cord resulting in
formation of chronic discharging sinus at scrotum with fibrosis and
abscessation of spermatic cord and testes. Metastasis of purulent
lesions to internal organs as lung, liver, spleen and kidney may be
occurs.
Diagnosis
• Field diagnosis: It depends on history,
epidemiology of the disease and clinical pictures.
• Laboratory diagnosis:
• Samples: Pus, skin biopsy, blood and serum.
• Laboratory examinations:
• Direct microscopic examination of stained pus
smear to detect staph sp.
• Culture of pus samples.
• Hematological and serological examinations.
Treatment
• Complete surgical excision of the lesion or local
dressing of the lesions with prolonged course of
systemic antibiotic.
Control
• Early diagnosis, isolation and treatment of
infected animals,
• Prophylactic treatment of all cutaneous wound
and abrasions and
• Adequate hygiene to prevent spread of infection.