Abstract
Pulmonary changes in field cases of bovine atypical interstitial pneumonia from Saskatchewan and Alberta were reviewed and compared with those in cattle with the same condition caused by either tryptophan or 3-methylindole. The experimentally produced changes were characterized by diffuse proliferation of alveolar pneumocytes. Similar lesions occurred in 48 field cases in animals with a history of a change in pasture or diet, whereas 107 other animals had focal exudative alveolitis, comparable to a hypersensitivity reaction. The two groups of cases are referred to as ‘dietary’ and ‘hypersensitivity atypical interstitial pneumonia', respectively. The dietary type occurred most commonly from September to November in animals 2 years and older. The hypersensitivity type occurred in younger animals throughout the year, with a peak incidence in January.
