Caseous lymphadenitis in animals

The causative organism of this severe and frequently fatal disease is Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Animals suffering from CLA develop large abscesses in the lymph nodes and other internal organs. These may burst and discharge infective material. Fatalities are common, and carcasses of animals which do survive may be condemned or downgraded at slaughter. In either case, economic losses to the farmer can be extremely serious.