Pulmonary actinomycosis in two chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra)

Actinomycosis is a widespread noncontagious infectious condition, occurring both in animals and humans, caused by bacteria of the Actinomyces genus. In this report two cases of pulmonary actinomycosis occuring in two wildlife chamois from northern Italy are described. In both the cases the evidence of lung pyogranulomatous lesions with intralesional sulphur granules composed by filamentous, acid fast-negative bacteria that showed Gram and PAS staining properties, leads to the etiological confirmation of pulmonary actinomycosis.