Caseous lymphadenitis: virulence factors, pathogenesis and vaccines. Review

Abstract

Caseous lymphadenitis is a disease that affects sheep and goat production worldwide. The etiological agent is a Gram-positive, facultative intracellular bacterium called Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis biovar ovis. The disease can occur with a cutaneous or visceral development, causing deterioration in the physical condition of the animal, as well as losses in the production of milk and meat, carcass confiscation, skin rejection and consequently, great economic losses. The study of virulence factors and pathogenesis mechanisms have made it possible to understand this disease, as well as to establish the target molecules for the development of new vaccines. There are commercial vaccines available globally; however, the protection conferred by them has not been effective in controlling the disease. Currently, the use of new technologies has allowed the obtaining and characterization of proteins with immunogenic potential for the development of new vaccines, which could be an alternative to increase protection. In the present work, the main factors of virulence of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, their implications in the pathogenesis and the current trends in the vaccine formulations are presented.