Isolierung von Corynebacterium diphtheriae subsp. belfanti bei einer Kuh mit chronisch-aktiver Dermatitis

Diphtheria is an acute communicable disease of man caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae subsp. Pharyngeal and cutaneous forms are described, wherefrom both toxigenic and nontoxigenic strains can be isolated. The occurrence of Corynebacterium diphtheriae subsp. in dairy cattle has already been reported in the past. The pathogens were isolated from ulcerated teats and from the milk of cows with mastitis as well. These animals were considered to play a role in the transmission of the disease to man. This paper describes the isolation and characterization of Corynebacterium diphtheriae subsp. in a 4 years old cow with generalized, partly ulcerative and purulent skin lesions. Bacteriological examination revealed the presence of very numerous corynebacterium-like organisms, which were characterized as C. d, a nontoxigenic subspecies of Corynebacterium diphtheriae subsp. The significance of Corynebacterium diphtheriae subsp. in veterinary medicine and the possible role of cattle as a reservoir of these organisms are discussed