Histopathological and histoenzymatic studies on bronchopneumonia in sheep

To characterize the pneumonic lesions of sheep in Kashmir Valley, India, 257 lungs were collected and processed for routine histopathological examination. Histoenzymatic study was also performed to ascertain the activity of alkaline and acid phosphatases in and around the various lesions. The pneumonic lungs were characterized as acute bronchopneumonia, chronic bronchopneumonia, fibrinous bronchopneumonia, suppurative bronchopneumonia, and interstitial bronchopneumonia. Mast cell hyperplasia and fibroplasia were characteristically observed in chronic lesions while as all the pneumonic lesions were associated with disruption and disorientation of elastin fibers and qualitative increase in acid and neutral mucopolysaccharides.