| Summary: | The aim of this study was to identify the pathogens potentially involved in parietal fibrinous peritonitis (PFP). PFP is a complication of laparotomy in cattle, characterized by an accumulation of exudate inside a fibrinous capsule. We have studied 72 cases of PFP in Belgian blue cows, confirmed by a standard diagnostic protocol. Blood was collected to evaluate the presence of antibodies for <i>Mycoplasma bovis</i><i>(M. bovis)</i>, <i>Coxiella burnetii</i><i>(C. burnetii)</i> and <i>Bovine Herpesvirus 4</i><i>(BoHV4</i>) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Peritoneal exudate was obtained from the PFP cavity to perform bacteriological culture, and to identify the DNA of <i>M</i>. <i>bovis</i>, <i>C</i>. <i>burnetii</i> and <i>BoHV4</i> using real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Bacteriological culture was positive in most peritoneal samples (59/72); <i>Trueperella pyogenes</i> (<i>T. pyogenes</i>) (51/72) and <i>Escherichia coli</i> (<i>E. coli</i>) (20/72) were the most frequently identified. For <i>BoHV4</i>, the majority of cows showed positive serology and qPCR (56/72 and 49/72, respectively). Contrariwise, <i>M. bovis</i> (17/72 and 6/72, respectively) and <i>C. burnetii</i> (15/72 and 6/72, respectively) were less frequently detected (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). Our study proves that PFP can no longer be qualified as a sterile inflammation. Moreover, we herein describe the first identification of <i>BoHV4</i> and <i>C. burnetii</i> in cows affected by PFP.
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