Arnold Mirjam, Richard Olivia, Gurtner Corinne, Nathues Heiko, Grahofer Alexander
Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Clinic for Swine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, CH, Bern, Switzerland.
Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Animal Pathology, University of Bern, CH, Bern, Switzerland.
BMC Vet Res. 2021 Jan 6;17(1):6. doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02680-1.
Actinobaculum suis is a bacterium known to cause infections of the urogenital tract of sows. Infection can occur through close contact to boars, who frequently carry the pathogen in their preputial diverticulum but do not become clinically diseased themselves. In the current case, Actinobaculum suis was isolated from pyogranuloma of inflamed epididymis in a boar with poor fertility.
Increased return to oestrus rate, which worsened after the purchase of a new boar, was reported in an organic farm in Switzerland. During herd examination, azoospermia of the boar was diagnosed, and slaughter, followed by examination of its urogenital tract, was carried out. Pathologically, pyogranuloma formation and epididymitis were diagnosed. Bacteriology of the pyogranulomas showed growth of Actinobaculum suis and mixed flora. After the boar was replaced, the return to oestrus rate improved tremendously.
A close relative of Actinobaculum suis, namely Actinotignum schaalii, has already been associated with epididymitis in humans. Considering the present case and the parallels in human medicine, Actinobaculum suis should be included in the list of differentials of boars with poor fertility.
猪放线杆菌是一种已知可引起母猪泌尿生殖道感染的细菌。感染可通过与公猪密切接触发生，公猪常在其包皮憩室中携带该病原体，但自身并不出现临床疾病。在本病例中，从一头繁殖力差的公猪发炎附睾的脓性肉芽肿中分离出了猪放线杆菌。
瑞士一家有机农场报告称，引入一头新公猪后，返情率升高，且情况恶化。在畜群检查期间，诊断出该公猪无精子症，随后对其进行了屠宰，并检查了其泌尿生殖道。病理检查诊断为脓性肉芽肿形成和附睾炎。脓性肉芽肿的细菌学检查显示猪放线杆菌生长及混合菌群。更换公猪后，返情率大幅改善。
猪放线杆菌的近亲——沙氏放线杆菌，已被证实与人类附睾炎有关。考虑到本病例以及与人类医学的相似之处，猪放线杆菌应被列入繁殖力差的公猪的鉴别诊断清单。
