endotoxemia and death caused by klebsiella pneumoniae (k1) and enteropathogenic escherichia coli in a red deer calf (cervus elaphus maral)

a three month-old-male red deer calf (cervus elaphus maral) was examined post mortem for the cause of death in arasbaran preserved area in east azerbaijan in september 2006. the main history of the case was the lack of colostrum intake after birth. the necropsy 6 hours after death, revealed severe general congestion especially in lungs and visceral organs (liver and jejunum). the cut surface of lungs was moist and bronchial lumina contained a large amount of frothy pinkish edema fluid. diffuse congestion of lung and porteinous exudates was prominent in examination. histopathological examination revealed shock lung and hepatocytes dissociation with single cell necrosis in liver. microscopic examination was in line with shock lung and alveolar edema. no parasites were observed within red blood cells. bacteriological cultures gave rise to gram negative cocoobacilli and further biochemical tests performed on isolated colonies revealed the presence of pure escherichia coli in liver and klebsiella pnemoniae in lung. using serological tests, e. coli serotypes o20 and o114 and klebsiella pnemoniae serotype k1 were identified in purified bacterial cultures. this report presents endotoxemia and death in a red deer calf with lack of colostrum intake and transportation stress history.