VMC 311, Veterinary Bacteriology, Notes compiled by Dr.

Gaurav Singhal

ACTINOBACILLUS
A. lignieresi

It is widely spread through out the cattle population of all countries.

The method of transmission is not known. It is extremely pleomorphic
under normal circumstances. It varies in size from coccoid form 0.4
micron in diameter to elongated filaments up to 15 micron long. It is
non motile, non capsulated and non spore forming. It has tendency to
form in aggregates or clumps in infected tissues forming brownish
white granules.

It is aerobic and growth is increased by the presence of CO2. The

optimum temperature is 37 degree C and requires slightly alkaline
serum medium. On agar surface, growth is scant, bluish in color,
transparent and flat. In nutrient broth, it forms a distinct pellicle.

It is killed at 60 degree C within 15 minutes. It is not resistant to

disinfectants, sunlight or dessication.

It produces acid from glucose, maltose, mannitol, fructose, galactose,

and sucrose. No change in litmus milk, indol not produced, nitrates
reduced to nitrites, methylene blue is reduced and methyl red test is
negative.

It causes the formation of abcesses in the cervical region, particularly

in the submaxillary lymph nodes. It causes “wooden tongue” in
cattle.

Immunity is not produced by the infection. For diagnosis, break the

brownish white granules and stain the smear with gram stain. The
presence of small, coccoid, gram-negative rods is indicative of A.
lignieresi.