- Pathogen:
- Histophilus somni
- Precautions:
- Standard
- Diagnosis:
- Optimal growth in 5-10% CO2 on chocolate agar. PCR-based tests useful when testing specimens of poor quality or when there is a lack of laboratory expertise. Confirmation for bovine infections requires cerebrospinal fluid or postmortem lesion material.
- Pathogen Information:
- Gram-negative rods that often appear as coccobacilli, belonging to the genera Histophilus.
- Epidemiology:
- Normal bacterial flora of bovine genital tracts. Commensals on upper respiratory tract mucosa. Pathogenic species are generally host specific.
- Associated Syndromes:
- Septicaemia, Thrombotic meningoencephalitis, Bronchopneumonia (in association with other pathogens), Reproductive tract infections, Epididymitis, vulvitis, mastitis, Arthritis.
- Additional Information:
- Resource: Quinn, P. J., et al. Concise Review of Veterinary Microbiology, John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2015.