Author(s): Neha Shukla, RC Ghosh, DK Jolhe, Poornima Gumasta, PM Sonkusale, Kamal Kishor and Piyush Kumar

Abstract: The present investigation was carried out to study the association of Proteus mirabilis to enteric infections in goats of Chhattisgarh. A total of 274 dead goats were screened for presence of enteric lesions. Among these, 114 goats showed prominent enteric lesions, from which, 96 faecal swabs and 18 swabs of mesenteric lymph nodes were collected for bacteriological examination. Moreover, representative tissue samples were also taken for histopathology. Overall, 54 bacterial isolates were recovered from 114 samples. Amongst 54 bacterial isolates, 02 (3.63%) isolates were identified as Proteus mirabilis by using Gram’s staining, colony as well as biochemical characteristics, Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry analysis and 16s rRNA gene sequencing. Further, phylogenetic analysis was performed. On postmortem examination, gross changes observed as enteritis, congestion and hemorrhages in intestinal mucosa, mucosal thickening, ballooning of intestine, presence of necrotic debris and exudate in lumen and enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes. Histopathology of intestine revealed necrosis of superficial epithelium and lamina propria of small intestine with infiltration of inflammatory cells, villous atrophy and haemorrhagic crypts and typical inflammatory lesions in the large intestine. It could be concluded that, Proteus mirabilis causes enteric infections in goats even though it is a common intestinal flora in these animals.

DOI: 10.33545/26174693.2024.v8.i7Se.1547