Synonyms

No known synonym

Name of the disease in English

Actinomycosis – Lumpy jaw

The disease in brief

Actinomyces bovis is the agent of this osteomyelitis of the bones of the head, especially the maxilla and the mandible, and very widespread. The infection occurs from oral lesions, often dental. It is an important disease because of its frequency and the fact that it can lead to reform or euthanasia.

Clinic & diagnosis

It is a deformation or more simply a mass on the mandible or cheek, of firm consistency to palpation, which evolves without fever, which makes one suspect the disease. The animal has difficulty eating and may drool. It is advisable to carefully inspect the mouth and teeth which can reveal the source of the infection (the primary lesions). The lymph nodes are not hypertrophied. 

Typical sign of the disease

No description

Pictures

See below

Diagnostic formulas

No description

Differential diagnosis

— Dental abscess N378                                                                                                                                                                                   

– Disharmonious molars of the old ruminant N57                                                                                                                                       

– Stomatitis due to foreign body or burn by caustic or stinging agent DG16

– Actinobacillosis of the tongue DG13

– Esophageal obstruction DG11

-Stomatitis due to foreign body or burn by caustic or stinging agent DG16

Confirm a suspicion?

rarely performed, a pus sample can be taken in the laboratory to characterize the presence of “filaments” typical of actinomycosis.

Prognosis and treatment

The treatment is traditionally carried out by combining:                                                                                                                                    

-An anti-infective which can be a sulfonamide, a penicillin, a tetracycline                                                                                        

- An iodine intake either intravenously (sodium iodide, which can be repeated twice at 2-week intervals) or orally (potassium iodide 7-10g/day for 7 to 10 days). Signs of iodism (watering eyes, skin releasing scales, cough, etc.) may appear. The prognosis is very reserved regarding the economic future of the cattle, and culling immediately may be a reasonable choice.

Prevention

Isolate the sick from the rest of the herd.                                                                                                                                       

Eliminate possible causes of oral trauma.

References

Veterinary Medicine-Pocket companion -9th Edition BLOOD DC-page 338

Memo written by G Argenté, DVM, Y. Millemann, Professor at ENV d'Alfort-2019