The Lesions in Bovine Udders Shedding Nonhemolytic Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci

Abstract

Inflammatory and atrophic lesions were found in 12 out of 13 quarters examined from 6 cows which were shedding nonhemolytic, coagulase-negative staphylococci. A few foci of neutrophils were observed in all except one quarter and this one had vacuolated alveolar epithelium. The most severe lesions were small and consisted of interstitial infiltration by fibroblasts, lymphocytes and plasma cells, and of vacuolated epithelium and neutrophils in alveoli. Milder lesions included both focal and widespread exudation of small numbers of neutrophils into alveoli and slight alveolar epithelial vacuolation.