Bacterial Infections and Diseases

This chapter introduces the main bacterial diseases recorded in reindeer. The term “pasteurellosis” is used for any disease caused by infection with bacteria within the genera Pasteurella, Mannheimia and Bibersteinia , all previously included in genus Pasteurella. The predominance of young reindeer developing pasteurellosis indicates some kind of immunity or resistance to the infection in older animals. Pasteurella multocida infection in reindeer is associated with both peracute hemorrhagic septicemia and acute or subacute lung disease. Clinical history and pathological findings may be suggestive of pasteurellosis; however, confirmative diagnosis rests on detection of P. multocida in tissues or fluids from a sick or dead animal. Necrobacillosis in reindeer is primarily an infection of the digits and distal feet. Differential diagnoses include trauma and infections caused by bacteria other than Fusobacterium necrophorum . Tuberculosis is a disease caused by infection with mycobacteria in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, comprising species like Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. caprae and others.