Liver lesions in a lamb carcass
In a female, cross-breed, 3 months old lamb carcass a color change was seen in the in the liver, which was darkened with rough surface and a slight whitish coloration of the capsule.
Histologically two different lesions could be observed, the relationship between both is uncertain.
On one side there was an interstitial chronic nonspecific hepatitis, with abundant fibrosis. This lesion could be related to an undiagnosed vascular malformation (such as a porto-sistemic shunt) or, less probably, to a possible congenital cardiopthy or even to a chronic toxicity. A parasitic etiology was ruled out.
On the other hand randomly distributed multiple microscopic abscesses were observed, composed of polymorphonuclear neutrophil leukocytes clusters. In microbiological culture of the liver samples Trueperella pyogenes was isolated. The animal, therefore, was probably septicemic with this bacterium with a probable omphalogenic origin (bacterial entrance through the umbilical cord).
Diaphragmatic aspect of the liver, there is darkening and irregularities in the surface.
Detail of the surface of the liver. The capsule has a whitish color and marked lobular pattern.
Gallbladder and liver visceral aspect.
