Ulcerative, granulomatous glossitis and enteritis caused by in a heifer.

infection in horses is common and is characterized by pyogranulomatous pneumonia and ulcerative enterocolitis. clinical disease in cattle, however, is rare and typically manifests as granulomatous lymphadenitis discovered in the abattoir. A 19-mo-old female Santa Gertrudis had a history of intermittent inappetence and weight loss for a 3-mo period before euthanasia. Gross and histologic examination revealed severe, chronic, ulcerative, and granulomatous inflammation in the tongue, pharynx, and small intestine. Also, the heifer had severe, granulomatous pharyngeal and mesenteric lymphadenitis. Bacterial cultures from the ileum, tongue, and liver yielded numerous-to-moderate numbers of . PCR analysis of the isolate detected the linear virulence plasmid , which is often identified in bovine isolates (- and -positive). The bacteria also lack the circular plasmids and that are associated with virulence in horses and swine, respectively. We report herein an atypical and unusual clinical presentation of infection in cattle, which has zoonotic potential.