Efficacy of a Fusobacterium necrophorum-Arcanobacterium pyogenes Bacterin-Toxoid as an Aid in the Prevention of Liver Abscesses in Cattle

Abstract

Condemnation of bovine livers because of liver abscesses causes a substantial economic loss to meat packers. Fusobacterium necrophorum and Arcano-bacterium pyogenes are believed to act synergistically to cause liver abscesses in cattle on high energy diets. A leukotoxin and a hemolysin have been shown to be important virulence factors of F. necrophorum and A pyogenes, respectively. The lysis of neutrophils and macrophages by the leukotoxin is thought to lead to the release of reactive oxygen radicals and cytolytic enzymes that damage the hepatic cells. The studies reported herein were done to test the efficacy of single-dose, bivalent F. necrophorum-A. pyogenes bacterin-toxoid to aid in the reduction of liver abscess incidence and severity under field conditions and natural challenge.