title: Escherichia fergusonii Associated with Pneumonia in a Beef Cow.
abstract: An adult Angus cow developed hyperthermia, prostration, and respiratory distress, dying 36 hours after the onset of clinical signs. The main finding during postmortem examination was a severe focally extensive pneumonia. Icterus and a chronic mastitis were also noticed. Histologic examination of the lungs detected fibrinonecrotic pneumonia, with large number of oat cells and intralesional Gram-negative bacterial colonies. Samples from lung lesions were collected, and a pure growth of Escherichia fergusonii was obtained. E. fergusonii is a member of Enterobacteriaceae, related to Escherichia coli and Salmonella sp. In veterinary medicine, E. fergusonii has been reported in calves and sheep with clinical cases suggestive of salmonellosis; in a horse and a goat with enteritis and septicemia; and in ostriches with fibrinonecrotic typhlitis. To our knowledge, this report represents the first description of E. fergusonii associated with an acute pneumonia in cattle.
authors.affiliation: California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS), Davis and Tulare Branches, 620 West Health Sciences Drive, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Guillermo M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Rimoldi
authors.affiliation: California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System (CAHFS), Davis and Tulare Branches, 620 West Health Sciences Drive, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Moeller