Sequential clinical, haematological, biochemical, immunopathological and histopathological alterations in buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis) intravenously infected with Absidia corymbifera

Abstract

Absidiosis was produced experimentally in 18 buffalo calves by intravenous inoculation of spores of Absidia corymbifera. Infected animals exhibited dullness, depression, partial anorexia and an initial pyrexia and coughing during the first week and two animals died on each of 9, 13 and 16 days post infection (DPI). The haemoglobin concentration and total erythrocyte count showed no appreciable change from their basal values at any stage of the experiment. However, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and total leukocyte count increased significantly in the infected animals. The differential leukocyte count revealed a relative neutrophilia from 5 to 20 DPI. There was a significant increase in the serum total proteins, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, serum alkaline phosphatase, total immunoglobulins and circulating immune complexes in the infected animals as compared to the controls. In the sera of the infected animals, specific Absidia corymbifera IgM and IgG antibodies were detected from 3 DPI to 6 DPI respectively by Dot-EIA. Type I and type III skin hypersensitivity were detected from 10 DPI and type IV hypersensitivity from 15 DPI onwards. The gross and microscopic pathological lesions were seen mainly in the lungs, in all except one of the affected animals. This animal died 9 DPI and mycotic granulomas were also seen in its heart and kidneys. The microscopic lesions in the lung took the form of well-developed granulomas.