Ulcerative lymphangitis:

• It is an infectious disease of cattle and horses characterized by formation of skin ulcers with involvement of lymph vessels of lower limbs.
• It is distributed world-wide.

Etiology:

• This disease is mainly caused by Corneybacterium pseudotuberculosis.
• It is pleomorphic, non-motile, non-spore forming gram-positive bacteria.

Transmission:

• Organism remain in skin and enters when skin is abraded.
• Organism then invades lymph vessels and lead to formation of abscess.

Clinical Findings:

• Disease progresses as diffuse swelling on one or both limbs causing lameness.
• Nodules on legs breaks down leading to formation of ulcers
• Thick greenish exudate mixed with blood appears from such ulcers.

Diagnosis:

• On basis of history and clinical findings
• Isolation and identification of organism
• Animal inoculation- Rapid death from peritonitis when infected materials are inoculated in guinea pig.

Differential Diagnosis:

• Disease should be differentiated with other lymphangitis and lymphadenitis, Glanders, Strangles.

Treatment:

• Broad-spectrum antibiotics should be administered in cattle or animals
• Daily cleaning and dressing of ulcerated wounds with antiseptic solution.
• If abscess is formed, it should be drained and wound should be cleaned with dilute antiseptic solution.
• NSAID drugs; meloxicam or paracetamol should be administered to prevent pain and fever.
• All contaminated materials should be properly disinfected and disposed.
• Affected animals or susceptible animals should be isolated from rest of herd
• Good hygiene of animals and sheds should be maintained.