European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

CHARACTERIZATION OF CORYNEBACTERIUM PSEUDOTUBERCULOSIS FROM SHEEP IN KHARTOUM STATE, SUDAN

Almaani Omer, M. Mahmoud* and Mohammed Taha, A. Shigidi*

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to isolate Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis from sheep slaughtered in Khartoum State, which is considered an important concentration point for sheep from different parts of sudan for local meat consumption and export. The main objectives were to determine the distribution of lesions in infected carcasses, to characterize the isolates and to select a candidate strain for vaccine production in an attempt to reduce the incidence of the diseases. Samples were collected from sheep carcasses routinely inspected for lesions in Khartoum abattoir, and slaughter houses in Karary, AL salam, ALkadro and Ganowa at Khartoum State. C.pseudotuberculosis was isolated from 50/88 (56.8%) of the samples. Lesions in lymph nodes of the slaughtered sheep were distributed as follows: prescapular 62(70.5%), parotid 5(5.7%), popliteal 4(4.5%),mediastinal 3(3.4%), mandibular 2(2.3%), and prefemoral 1(1.1%). Abscesses in other parts were in livers 5(5.7%), lungs 3(3.4%), and in subcutaneous tissues, kidneys and spleens 1(1.1%) each. Isolates of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis were identified on the basis of their morphological, biochemical and cultural characteristics. A strain was selected for experimental vaccine production based on the presence of the major virulence phospholipase D(PLD) factor as determined by multiplex PCR and sequencing techquines.

Keywords: Caseous lymphadenitis; Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis; biochemical tests; molecular technique; sheep.