Listeriosis in a Dairy Cow and Simultaneous Isolation of the Causative Agent from Silage

Abstract

In May, 1985, a Holstein cow suffered from nervous symptoms and was condemned within a day. Pathological examination revealed local necrosis, degeneration of nerve cells and perivascular infiltration mainly in the brain stem. Listeria monocytogenes type 4b was isolated from the brain stem. Simultaneously, the same bacteria were isolated from the deteriorated silage feeded. This result showed good agreement with the isolated from the cow biochemically and serologically. Consequently, the silage seemed to be responsible for the disease.