Foreign Body-induced Oral Abscess Mimicking Refractory Bovine Actinobacillosis: A Case Report

Abstract

Aim: To report a case of an oral foreign body mimicking treatment-resistant actinobacillosis in a non-descript cow. Case Presentation: A three-year-old non-descript cow, which had calved twice, was presented to the Veterinary Clinical Complex, Tirunelveli, with anorexia for three days, difficulty in mastication, and bilateral oedematous submandibular swelling. Clinical examination of the oral cavity showed cystic fluid accumulation on the left medio-lateral aspect of the tongue and a hard, ulcerated mass on the right side with halitosis. The animal had previously received treatment for an eye infection at a nearby veterinary clinic without improvement. Samples were collected for haematological and microbiological examination. Discussion: Haematology was normal except for neutrophilia. Culture and subsequent Gram staining revealed Gram-negative coccobacilli consistent with Actinobacillus lignieresii. Treatment comprised intravenous 20% sodium iodide (70 mg/kg), intramuscular Dicrysticin-S (5 g/day for 5 days), flunixin meglumine (2 mg/kg) for 5 days, and oral potassium iodide (10 g/day for 8 days), along with local wound dressing and supportive therapy. The animal was lost to follow-up and later relapsed. The owner subsequently sold it for slaughter, where a needle-shaped foreign body was recovered from the oral cavity. Conclusion: The foreign body likely initiated oral tissue injury and abscess formation, with secondary A. lignieresii infection, mimicking primary actinobacillosis.