Urocystitis and Ureteritis in Holstein Calves with Septicaemia Caused by Salmonella enterica Serotype Dublin

Abstract

Salmonellosis is an enteric or multisystemic disease of global distribution that affects numerous animal species. Although Salmonella enterica has been associated with urinary tract lesions in man, information on urocystitis/ureteritis in cattle caused by salmonellae is lacking. This communication describes lesions of the inferior urinary tract in four Holstein calves with septicaemia caused by S. enterica subsp. enterica serotype Dublin. Examination of the urinary bladder revealed either diffuse irregular thickening (three cases) or petechiation (one case) of the mucosa. On histopathological examination, urocystitis with submucosal histiocytic, lymphocytic and plasmacytic infiltration and neutrophil transmigration through the urothelium was noted in all cases. In one case, a fibrinosuppurative ureteritis was detected. Salmonella Dublin was identified by culture, 16S rDNA sequencing and serotyping and Salmonella antigen was detected intralesionally by immunohistochemistry. Other lesions, indicative of septicaemia included hepatitis, enteritis, pericarditis, splenitis, lymphadenitis and pneumonia. We conclude that S. Dublin can be uropathogenic in cattle with septicaemia.

Keywords: cattle; pathology; salmonellosis; urinary tract infection.

Fig. 1

Urinary bladder, Holstein calf (case 4). Multifocal widespread mucosal petechiation. Bar, 3 cm.

Fig. 2

Urocystitis, Holstein calf (case 1). The submucosa of the urinary bladder is markedly and diffusely hypercellular due to inflammatory cellular infiltrate and there is moderate hyperplasia of the mucosa. HE.

Fig. 3

Urocystitis, Holstein calf (case 1). Higher magnification of the urinary bladder shown in Fig. 2 depicting neutrophil transmigration through the urothelium (arrows) with formation of mucosal micropustules (arrowheads), urothelial hyperplasia and submucosal lymphohistiocytic and plasmacytic inflammation. HE.

Fig. 4

Urinary bladder, Holstein calf (case 2). Infrequent multifocal anti-Salmonella immunoreactivity colocalizes with neutrophil transmigration within the urothelium. IHC.

Supplementary Fig. 1

Colon, horse infected with Salmonella Typhimurium, used as a positive control for the IHC. There is frequent anti-Salmonella immunoreactivity in the lamina propria. Note that the size, shape and intensity of the immunoreactivity are similar to those depicted in Fig. 4, although more frequent. IHC.