Bacteriological and pathological study of liver abscesses in goat carcasses in slaughterhouses

Authors

  • Afshin Zahedi Department of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Rasht Branch, Rasht, Iran Author
  • Mohammadreza Poorghasemi Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Rasht Branch, Rasht, Iran Author
  • Masoud Shirali Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Hillsborough BT26 6DR, United Kingdom Author
  • Forogh Mohammadi Department of Veterinary, Agriculture Faculty, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran Author
  • Maryam Karimi-Dehkordi Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61308/ne8dyv90

Keywords:

Goat, liver abscesses, pseudotuberculosis, streptococcosis

Abstract

The present research was conducted to determine the incidence of liver abscesses, bacterial causes, and histopathological structure in goats slaughtered in the slaughterhouse. A total of 1187 goats, including 673 male goats and 514 female goats were subjected to routine post-slaughter inspections. If an abscess was observed in the liver examination, the anatomical position of the abscess was recorded by noting the lobe and the surface. Each abscess was separated along with a part of the surrounding healthy tissue, and was sent immediately to the bacteriology and pathology laboratories for processing. There was no significant relationship between the occurrence of abscesses and the sex of goats, or between abscesses and different liver surfaces. From aerobic and anaerobic cultures of abscesses, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis was isolated from two cases, Arcanobacterium pyogenes from two cases, Fusobacterium necrophorum and Escherichia coli together from two cases, and Pseudomonas spp and Streptococcus spp from one case each. The results of this study showed that Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, the cause of caseous lymphadenitis, is an important bacterial agent in causing liver abscesses in goats slaughtered in slaughterhouses, although other less specific bacterial pathogens also cause abscesses.

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Published

25.02.2026

How to Cite

Zahedi, A., Poorghasemi, M., Shirali, M., Mohammadi, F., & Karimi-Dehkordi, M. (2026). Bacteriological and pathological study of liver abscesses in goat carcasses in slaughterhouses. Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, 32(1), 193-200. https://doi.org/10.61308/ne8dyv90