Pathomorphological study of aspiration pneumonia in cattle: A case report

Abstract

Respiratory diseases are a prime cause which contribute to mortality and economic loss in bovines, with aspiration pneumonia being a particularly severe condition. This study investigates the pathomorphological alteration in a dairy cow suffering from aspiration pneumonia. During the necropsy, grossly, lung tissues revealed emphysema, congestion, and fibrinous adhesions. On microscopic examination, it was identified as broncho-interstitial pneumonia characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration and necrotic debris in the bronchiolar lumen and the lung interstitium. On the etiological basis, this pneumonia is categorised as aspiration pneumonia. The presence of foreign material in the bronchi and bronchiolar lumen confirmed aspiration pneumonia. Bacteriological examination isolated Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus chromogenes from the lung tissue and tracheal lumen, lighting bacterial involvement. These findings emphasize the multifactorial etiology of aspiration pneumonia and the importance of management practices to mitigate severe respiratory conditions in cattle.