BOVINE ACTINOMYCOSIS
Actinomycosis in animals is a specific chronic infectious disease which is accompanied by the development of inflammatory granuloma (actinomycoma). It is more common in cattle and pigs and less often in other farm animals. The duration of the incubation period is from several weeks to one year. The clinical picture in cattle is determined by the localization of the process, the degree of the agent's virulence and the resistance of the animal organism. The cause of actinomycosis is a pathogenic fungus Streptothrix actinomyces that lives on stems and ears of cereals. The fungus penetrates the body through the damaged mucosa of the oral cavity and skin. The causative agent of the disease that penetrates the body forms druses and causes slow development of inflammatory process. Fungal filaments forming new nodules in the surrounding tissues develop on the place of the primary nodule. So large lobules-nodes (actinomycomas) arise, in the center of which the foci of softening appear as a result of degeneration and circulatory disorders. Then abscesses are formed. Actinomycosis lesions in cattle are located in the region of the head. The maxilla, mandible, intermaxillary space, submaxillary lymph nodes and bone tissue are affected. The data on the Altai Region confirm the increase in the number of cases of actinomycosis. This indicates inadequate prevention and treatment of the disease.