JVD 2009 2 Actinomycosis in a Pet Rabbit Hwa Hong

Question 1

What sort of bacteria is Actinomyces and where is it normally found?

Answer 1

Actinomyces is a gram-positive anaerobic bacillus, normally found in the oral cavity and digestive tract of human beings and domestic animals

Question 2

What areas are normally infected by Actinomyces.

Answer 2

Actinomycosis commonly infects the cervicofacial region, pleura, lungs, pericardium, retroperitoneal space, limbs, and subcutaneous tissues

Question 3

What is the pathological hallmark of Actinomyces on histopathology and what other diseases rarely exhibit the same phenomenom?

Answer 3

The presence of sulphur granules.

Nocardiosis, chromomycosis, eumycetoma, and botryomycosis also rarely have sulphur granules present in the tissue.

Question 4

What animal is seen ion this radiograph?

Describe the abnormality seen here?

Answer 4

A rabbit

Radiographic signs consistent with osteomyelitis and bone lysis are observed in

the mandibular bone. There is marked soft tissue swelling ventral to the mandibles (dot line).

Question 5

What other dental diseases have been recognised in rabbits for many years?

Answer 5

tooth elongation, malocclusions, root disease, oral trauma, periodontal disease, and abscess formation.

Question 6

What tissues are commonly invaded by actinomyces?

Answer 6

Cervicofacial region, pleura, lungs, pericardium, retroperitoneal space, limbs, and subcutaneous tissues