Actinobacillosis is a chronic bacterial condition seen in the soft tissues of the head in adult cattle, mainly affecting the tongue.
Most commonly known to farmers as timber/wooden tongue, it is caused by a Gram-negative bacteria called Actinobacillosis lignieresi.
Outbreaks of wooden tongue may follow the feeding of hay which contains fibrous stalks or thistles.
Cavan-based veterinary practitioner, Gerard McGovern, recently stumbled across a case in a Shorthorn cow.
Taking to his popular Instagram account, he said: “The lesions on the tongue are chronic granulomatous, typically yellow in colour, as seen in video.”
“The retropharangeal & submandibular glands are sometimes affected (snoring is often a presenting sign).”
“Profuse salivation & retention of food material in the mouth (photos 1 & 2) are common presenting signs.” the vet, with over 32,000 Instagram followers added.
Actinobacillosis, he pointed out, can also sometimes occur in the oesophagus, cardiac, lumen & reticulum and there is also a cutaneous form.
“Treatment with streptomycin is very successful but in countries where streptomycin is unavailable, iodide preparations are used.”
