Oropharyngeal Necrobacillosis with Septic Thrombophlebitis and Pulmonary Embolic Abscesses: Lemierre's Syndrome in a New Zealand White Rabbit

Author： Seps Steven L. Battles August H. Nguyen Lam Wardrip Craig L. LI Xiantang

Publisher： American Association for Laboratory Animal Science

ISSN： 1559-6109

Source： Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, Vol.38, Iss.5, 1999-09, pp. : 44-46

Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.

Previous Menu Next

Abstract

Lemierre's syndrome, oropharyngeal infections induced by anaerobic bacteria, leading to fatal septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein and pulmonary embolic abscesses in humans, was diagnosed in a 6-month-old, male, New Zealand White rabbit. After acute onset of anorexia, lethargy, and depression, the rabbit died suddenly despite emergency clinical care. Necropsy revealed swelling, necrosis, and abscess in the soft tissues around the left caudal mandibular ramus, oral mucosa, and molar teeth, with systemic embolic abscesses and necrosis, especially in the jugular vein, lungs, and brain. Histologic examination revealed necrosis and embolic abscesses with filamentous bacteria in the mandibular soft tissues, salivary gland, jugular veins, alveolar bone and marrow, periodontal tissues and dental pulp, oral and pharyngeal mucosa, lungs, brain, liver, myocardium, meninges, and small intestine. Bacterial culture of the mandibular abscess and heart blood yielded Fusobacterium necrophorum.