reactive systemic amyloidosis due to untreated mycoplasma infection

Goats are susceptible to mycoplasma spp. infections which are commonly associated with pneumonic and arthritic lesions and cause morbidity and mortality in goats. amyloidosis manifests as insoluble fibrillar protein deposition in various tissues particularly kidneys that is seen as hyaline aggregates by hematoxylin and eosin staining. rreactive systemic (aa) amyloidosis, is a complication of chronic inflammatory and infective diseases in which stimulates overproduction of serum amyloid a (saa) protein as an acute-phase response. clinical examination of six 3-months old downer kids of a dairy goat herd was revealed cachexia, pneumonia and enlarged stifle joint. at necropsy of these 6 dead bodies, synovial fluid specimen and joints swabs were obtained then multiple tissues were fixed in formalin from affected organs such as liver, kidneys, spleen, brain and small intense in order to further bacterial isolation and pcr, and histopathologic investigation. special staining for amyloidosis conformation (congo red) was conducted. necropsy findings were consisted of bilateral cranioventral lobar consolidation of lung lobes and pleural adhesion by fibrin layer, fibrinous pericarditis, mild hyperemia of meninx and an area of fibrin deposition on hepatic capsule. histopathologic specimens were remarkable for inflammation and amyloidosis changes as have been shown neutrophilic accumulation in respiratory tracts, interlobar septa thickening, cuffing pneumonia and multifocal fibrinous bronchopneumonia in lung parenchyma. hepatic sinusoidal space filled and distended by glassy eosinophilic material, multifocal interstitial fibrosis and hyaline casts within renal tubular lumen, glomerular amyloidosis, large circular regions of eosinophilic material deposition in spleen, distention of intestinal mucosal epithelial cells. congo red special staining was indicative for amyloidosis changes. bacterial isolation and pcr detection testified to presence of mycoplasma spp. in synovial fluid and lung tissue samples. according to the results, an unsuccessfully treated mycoplasma pneumonia infection which became chronic, has induced the systemic amyloidosis. care should be taken not to misinterpret the symptoms which the consequences are more tragic and hazardous in economic and health of the herds than what preliminary treatment costs.