Sheep

1
Sheep Goat Health
Common Problemsand Solutions

• SUSAN SCHOENIANGoat and Sheep SpecialistMaryland
  Cooperative Extensionwww.sheepandgoat.comwww.sh
  eep101.info/201/diseasesa-z.html

2
Health care in sheep and goats

• Starts with Prevention
• Biosecurity
• Vaccination program
• Parasite control
• Good nutrition
• Early detection and treatment
• Culling
• Predator control

Boer x Kiko
3
BiosecuritySecurity from transmission of
infectious diseases, parasites, and pests

• Buy from reputable breeders.
• Know the health status of the animals you are
  purchasing.
• Maintain a closed flock/herd.
• Limit showing/ exhibiting.
• Isolate new animals for at least 30 days.

4
BiosecuritySecurity from transmission of
infectious diseases, parasites, and pests

• Dont loan or share rams or bucks.
• Dont breed ewes or does for other producers.
• Do not mix your animals with other peoples
  animals.
• Dont share equipment unless it is disinfected
  after each use.
• Dont let your shearer spread disease.
• Limit access to your farm/animals.
• Control cat, dog, bird, and rodent populations.

Unless other farm/animals have equal health
status.
5
Sound Vaccination Program

• Clostridial diseasesClostridium perfringins type
  C D (overeating disease/enterotoxemia)Clostrid
  ium tetani (tetanus)
• Vaccinate ewes/does 2-6 weeks before parturition
• Vaccine lambs/kids at 6 and 10 weeks of age
• Vaccine rams, bucks, and wethers annually
• Other diseases you could vaccinate for
• Some types of abortion
• Soremouth
• Caseous lymphadenitis (CL)
• Foot rot
• Pneumonia
• E. coli scours
• Other clostridial diseases
• Rabies

Depends on disease prevalence and risk.
6
Deworming Parasite Control Program

• Good management
• Pasture rest/rotation
• Alternative forages
• Zero grazing
• Mixed species grazing
• Genetic selection
• between and within breeds
• Fecal egg counts
• Monitor pasture contamination
• Test for drug resistance
• Selective deworming

7
Good nutritionBetter nutrition means stronger
immune systems and disease resistance.

• Feed balanced rations.
• Feed according to production cycle and growth
  stage.
• Supplement pasture and forage, when necessary and
  economical.
• Provide free choice minerals.
• Choose proper feeds for sheep and goats.

8
Early detection and treatmentEarly diagnosis is
key to the control of health problems.

• Know common signs of illness
• Loss of body condition
• Poor appetite
• Lag behind flock/herd
• Lethargy
• Ears or head down (tail down)
• Poor hair/wool coat
• Teeth grinding (pain)
• Dirty hocks, tail, britch (scours)
• Anemia (barber pole worm)
• Fever (infection) normal body temp is 102-103F
• Breathing (respiratory)
• Gait (neurological)

9
CullingCulling is one of the most powerful tools
in managing animal health.

• Most problems have a genetic component
• Foot rot
• Parasites
• Vaginal, rectal prolapses
• Inverted eye lids
• Most disease conditions will repeat or get worse
• Hoof problems
• Mastitis
• Vaginal prolapses

Vaginal prolapse
10
Control predationPredation accounted for 37.3
of sheep and goat losses in 2005.

• Predator control options
• Fencing
• Management
• Livestock guardians
• Lethal control

coyotes, dogs, bears, mountain lions, cougars,
foxes, eagles, bobcats, wolves, vultures
11
FencingPredator control starts with a good fence.

• High-tensile, electric
• Woven or net wire
• Electric netting
• Modify existing fences
• Predator-proof gates

12
Management Options

• Remove dead carcasses and anything else that
  attracts predators.
• Complete confinement.
• Lamb/kid in confinement.
• Night penning.
• Minimize use of high risk pastures.
• Dont lamb or kid in remote areas or large
  pastures.
• Change lambing/kidding season.
• Fall lambing/kidding tends to reduce predator
  losses.
• Repellents, frightening devices.
• Aversive conditioning.

13
Livestock Guardians45 of sheep farms employ
livestock guardians.

• Guardian dogs (29.6)Great Pyrenees, Komondor,
  Akbash, Anatolian Shepherd, Maremma, Mastiff
• Llamas (14.2) (female or gelding, not alpacas)
• Donkeys (11.4) (standard sized, gelding or
  jenny)
• Cattle flerdneed to be bonded

14
Lethal Predator ControlLast resort, but
sometimes necessary.

• Shooting
• Trapping (foot hold, snare)
• Denning
• Livestock protection collar
• M-44 cyanide injector

• Make sure you know the laws in your state/county.
• Requires assistance of USDA APHIS Wildlife
  Services

15
Health problems of sheep and goats

• Major health issues
• Other common problems
• A few other diseases
• Wasting diseases

16
The major health issues

• Internal Parasites
• Foot rot
• Diarrhea
• Respiratory
• Predation

Goats eating chicory
17
Internal Parasites 1 health problem affecting
sheep and goats in warm, moist climates.

• Stomach/round worms barber pole worm
• Tapeworms
• Lungworms
• Liver Flukes
• Meningeal worm
• Coccidiosis

18
Stomach worms

• PrimaryHaemonchus contortis (barber pole worm)
• SecondaryOstertagia Tristrongylus
  sp.Nematodirus

Bottle jaw
Pale mucous membranes
19
Other worm parasites

• Tapeworms
• Lungworms
• Liver flukes
• Meningeal (deer) worm

20
Coccidiosis eimera sp.

• Single-cell protozoa that damages the lining of
  the small intestines, where nutrient absorption
  occurs.
• Can permanently stunt animals.
• Species-specific
• Causes scouring, weight loss, and death in
  lambs/kids.
• Stress-induced

NADIS
21
Coccidiosis eimera sp.

• Diagnosis
• Fecal oocyte counts are of limited diagnostic
  value.
• Treatment (requires extra label drug use)
• Corid (Amprolium)
• Sulfa drugs
• Prevention
• Good sanitation
• Avoid overcrowding
• Use of coccidiostats in feed, mineral, or water
  (before hand)
• Bovatec (lasalocid)
• Rumensin (monensin)
• Deccox (Decoquinate)
• Corid (lower dose than treatment)

Toxic to equines. Do not feed to equines.
http//www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/coccidtable.h
tml
22
Foot rotOne of the most economically devastating
diseases in the sheep/goat industry.

• Highly contagious.
• Caused by the interaction of two anaerobic
  bacteria
• Bacteroides nodosus in sheep/goats hoof (can
  only survive 10-14 days)
• Fusobacterium necrophorum in soil and manure
  (always)
• Lameness is symptom.
• Gets in hoof.
• Has characteristic foul odor.
• Treat with aggressive hoof trimming, foot
  baths/soaks, antibiotics, moving to dry area,
  vaccination, and culling.

Most people BUY foot rot!
http//www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/sheep/410-028/410-028.h
tml
23
Foot Scald (is not foot rot)interdigital
dermatitis, benign foot rot, non-virulent foot rot

• Not contagious.
• An infection between the toes. No involvement of
  the hoof.
• Caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum, the bacteria
  that is always present on sheep and goat farms.
• Activated by damp, muddy conditions goes away
  when its dry.
• Can treat/control with foot baths/soaks, moving
  to a dry area.

Environmental
24
Diarrhea (scours)An increased frequency,
fluidity, or volume of fecal excretion.

• Infectious
• Viral
• BacterialE.coli, salmonella
• Protozoa coccidia, cryptosporidia
• Non-infectious
• Parasites
• Nutrition
• Management
• Stress
• Often a symptom of other problems. Often
  self-limiting. Determine cause!
• Treatment rehydration, antibiotics (if fever),
  antidiarrheal drugs (pepto-bismal, kaopectate,
  immodium), probiotics (yogurt).

-- many causes --
http//www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/scours.html
25
Respiratory Problems

• Respiratory complex pasteurella sp.,
  mycoplasma, chlamydia, Parainfluenza type 3
  virus, etc.
• Pasteurella sp. most common agent.
• Characterized by high fever (106-108F)
• May result in lung abscesses at slaughter.
• Poor ventilation is a leading cause of
  respiratory problems.
• Treat with antibiotics

Other causes OPP, lungworms, nasal bots,
ketosis, acidosis
26
Other Common Problems

• Nutritional
• Reproductive
• Skin

27
Nutritional / Metabolic

• Pregnancy toxemia
• Milk fever
• Enterotoxemia
• Floppy kid syndrome
• Acidosis
• Urinary calculi
• Polioencephalomalacia
• Listeriosis
• Bloat
• Copper-related
• Selenium-related

28
EnterotoxemiaOvereating disease, pulpy kidney
disease
Caused by bacteria, clostridium perfringins type
C D

• Usually occurs in lambs/kids that are consuming
  large amounts of concentrate, but may also occur
  on pasture and with heavy milking dams
• Type C - 0-30 days
• Type D - 30 days
• Predisposed by abrupt change in feed.
• Treatment (anti-toxin) is usually unrewarding.
• Prevention
• Vaccination of pregnant dams and offspring
• Avoid sudden changes in dietdont let creep feed
  run out
• Low level feeding of antibiotics
• Plenty of feeder space

Usually affects fastest growing lambs/kids. It is
not uncommon to find them dead, with no prior
symptoms.
Vaccine is not as effective in goats.
29
Floppy kid syndromeFirst documented in 1987

• Affects kids between 3 and 10 days of age
  (normal at birth)
• Most common late in kidding season.
• Causes muscle weakness, ataxia.
• Cause unknown, but suspected to be
  gastro-intestinal, a metabolic acidosis.
• Treat with sodium bicarbonate and supportive
  therapy.

30
(Lactic) AcidosisGrain overload, grain poisoning

• Caused by excessive consumption of
  concentrates/grain which changes acidity of
  rumen.
• Treat with antacids, sodium bicarbonate.
• Prevent with proper feed management.
• Introduce and increase grain slowly in diet.
• Feed whole grains, grains that digest slower
• Include forage in diet.
• Split grain feedings feed forage first.
• Buffering agents.

31
Urinary CalculiWater belly, urolithiasis,
calculosis, kidney stones

• Blockage of urethra by calculi (stones) causes
  retention of urine.
• Wethers are most prone (early castration).
• Treatment depends upon severity of condition.
• Usually caused by too much phosphorus in the
  diet, i.e. an imbalance of calcium and phosphorus
  in the ration (

32
Urinary CalculiWater belly, urolithiasis,
calculosis, kidney stones

• Proper ration balancing
• CaP ratio should be at least 21.
• Legumes are a good source of calcium.
• Cereal grains have a poor ratio of CaP.
• Commercial feeds are balanced for Ca and P.
• Do not add anything to balanced rations.
• Ground limestone can be added to the ration as a
  source of calcium.
• Free choice minerals do not ensure proper intake
  of minerals.
• Adequate water intake important
• Salt in ration(0.5 ammonium chloride in diet)

33
PolioencephalomalaciaPEM, polio, cerebrocortical
necrosis

• Affects the central nervous system.
• Mimics other neurological conditions.
• Caused by a thiamin (Vitamin B1) deficiency not
  insufficient thiamine, but the inability to
  utilize it
• Symptoms blindness, star gazing.
• Usually occurs in animals on high concentrate
  diets, but may also occur on pasture.
• Treat with thiamine injections.

34
Listerioiscircling disease

• Caused by bacteria Listeria monocytogenes

• Occurs 4-6 weeks after bacteria is consumed.
• Results in neurological symptoms depression,
  disorientation, head tilt, facial paralysis,
  walking in circles.
• Most commonly associated with the feeding of
  moldy silage.
• High mortality uterine form causes abortion.
• Non-contagious.
• If recognized early, treatment with high doses of
  antibiotics can be effective.

35
BloatOccurs when rumen gas production rate of
gas elimination.

• Pasture/frothy caused by consumption of
  legumous forages (alfalfa and clover), lush
  cereal grain pastures, wet grass, or finely
  ground grain.
• Treat with anti-foaming agent, mineral or
  vegetable oil.
• Prevent with good grazing management and
  poloxalene.
• Limit legume content of pastures to 50 or less.
• Consider non-bloating legumes (birdsfoot trefoil,
  lespedeza)
• Feedlot/free gas associated with grain feeding
• Treat by passing stomach tube rumenotomy in life
  threatening situations.

36
Copper-relatedCopper has important role in
fertility and health.

• Copper toxicity(more common, esp. sheep)
• Caused by too much copper in diet or not enough
  molybdenum (and/or sulfur).
• For sheep, there is a narrow range between Cu
  requirements and toxicity levels.
• Goats need and tolerate higher levels of copper
  in their diet.
• Copper deficiency
• Anemia, ataxia
• Swayback
• Steely, stringy wool

37
Selenium-relatedSelenium and Vitamin E are
interrelated.

• Inadequate Se can affect growth, reproduction,
  immunity.
• White muscle disease
• Degeneration of the skeletal and cardiac muscles
• Caused by a deficiency of selenium, vitamin E, or
  both
• Can be a problem wherever selenium levels in the
  soil are low
• Preventing/treating problems
• Vitamin E/Selenium supplementation in feed,
  mineral mix, or via injections
• Treat with Vitamin E/Se injections
• Be careful when giving Se it is more toxic than
  other trace minerals.

38
Reproductive Problems

• Abortion
• Dystocia
• Metabolic pregnancy toxemia and milk fever
• Mastitis
• Vaginal and uterine prolapses

39
AbortionTermination of pregnancy or birth of
weak or deformed lambs or kids that die shortly
after birth.

• Bacterial
• Chlamydia Enzootic Abortion, EAE
• Vibriosis Vibrio campylobacter
• Leptospirosis
• Salmonella
• Viral
• Cache Valley Virus (mosquito vector)
• Protozoa
• Toxoplasmosiscaused by protozoa that causes
  coccidiosis in cats

The organisms that cause abortion in ewes/does
can cause abortion in women.
40
Dealing with an abortion stormOver 5 of
herd/flock seek veterinary assistance

• Prevent spread of infectious agents.
• Strict sanitation.
• Disposal of infective material.
• Isolation of aborting females.
• Submit proper samples to a diagnostic lab.
• Blood sampling.
• Immediate vaccination.
• Use of antibiotics.

The organisms that cause abortion in ewes/does
can cause abortion in women.
41
Preventing abortion storms

• Maintain a closed flock/herd.
• Vaccination
• Low level feeding of antibiotics.
• Prevent contamination of feed and water.
• Control cat population.
• Avoid stressful, overcrowded, and/or unsanitary
  conditions.
• Feed Rumensin or Deccox.

The organisms that cause abortion in ewes/does
can cause abortion in women.
42
Dystocia (difficult births)New Zealand study
showed that dystocia accounted for 50 of newborn
lamb deaths.

• Abortion dead or dewormed babies
• Abnormal presentation of fetus(es)
• Unusually large fetus
• Small pelvic area
• Fat mama
• Vaginal prolapse
• Ring womb failure of cervix to dilate

43
Dystocia (difficult births)New Zealand study
showed that dystocia accounted for 50 of newborn
lamb deaths.

• Know when to assist
• Straining for over an hour with no progress.
• Know how to assist
• Be clean and gentle.
• Use plenty of lubricant.
• Determine presentation/ problem.
• Have ewe/doe stand or elevate her hindquarters.
• Use antibiotic on any ewe/doe you assist.
• Call a veterinarian or experienced shepherd if
  you have worked on a ewe/doe for more then 30
  minutes with no progress.

44
Pregnancy toxemiaketosis, twin lamb disease,
lambing paralysis, hypoglycemia

• Low blood sugar caused by an inadequate intake of
  energy during late gestation.
• Breakdown of fat produces toxic ketone bodies.
• Mostly commonly affects fat, thin, old, and/or
  females carrying multiple births.
• Symptoms lethargy, sluggishness, lack of
  appetite, poor muscle control, inability to rise.
• Treatment is to increase blood sugar by giving
  glucose orally, sub-Q, or IV. C-section in
  extreme cases.
• Prevent by providing enough energy in diet and
  providing adequate feeder space.

45
Milk Feverhypocalcemia, parturient paresis

• Low blood calcium
• Caused by inadequate intake of calcium during
  late pregnancy or inability to mobilize calcium
  reserves prior to or after parturition.
• Similar symptoms as pregnancy toxemia.
• Can occur before or after parturition.
• Treat with commercial calcium solutions sub-Q or
  IV.
• Prevent by providing proper amount of calcium in
  diet.
• Dont under or overfeed calcium.Save alfalfa hay
  for lactation. Feed mixed hay in late gestation.

46
ProlapsesMore common in sheep than goats.

• Three kinds
• Vaginaltends to repeatgenetic component
• Uterinenot geneticlife-threatening
• Rectal(not usually reproductive)Risk factors
  sex, diet, genetics, health, and length of tail
  dock.

Vaginal
Rectal
Uterine
http//www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/rectalprolaps
e.html
Prolapses have many predisposing factors/causes.
47
MastitisA major reason for culling ewes (46)

• Inflammation of the udder
• Usually caused by bacteria Streptococcus sp.,
  Staphylococcus sp., Pasteurella sp., and
  coliforms, such as E. coli.
• Acute, chronic, or sub-clinical.
• Both halves - could be OPP.
• Treat with antibiotics
• Systemic
• Intramammary
• Prevention
• Good sanitation
• Proper management at weaning.
• Dry cow treatment
• Later weaning
• Cull females with lumpy udders.

48
Diseases affecting the skin

• Soremouth
• Ringworm
• External parasites

49
Soremouthcontagious ecthyma, contagious pustular
dermatitis, scabby mouth, orf

• Most common skin disease of sheep and goats.
• Caused by a virus from the pox family.
• Causes lesions on mouth, lips, nostrils (teats,
  scrotum).
• Problematic during lambing/ kidding season and if
  you show/exhibit.
• Normally runs its course in 1 to 4 weeks.
• Very contagious, including to people (orf).
• There is a live vaccine for it. (dont vaccinate
  if youve never had it).

50
Ringwormclub lamb fungus, lumpy wool, wool rot

• Fungal disease
• Usually occurs in show lambs.
• Results in hair loss, scabs, lesions, and
  pustules.
• Contagious, to humans as well.
• Treat with fungicides.

51
External parasitesEndoparasites

• Keds (sheep tick)
• Ticks
• Lice
• Mites
• Blowflies/maggots
• Nasal bots

52
Keds, ticks, lice, (mange) mites

• Treat with insecticides dip, spray, or pour-
  on.
• Some anthelmintics are effective against biting
  parasites (e.g. ivermectin)
• Clean, dry environment

53
FlystrikeMyiasis

• Caused by parasitic dipterous fly larvae feeding
  on the hosts necrotic or living tissue.
• Occurs when flies lay eggs in moist wool or open
  wound or break in the skin.
• Can cause death.
• Prevent by proper docking, mulesling, and
  insecticide treatments.
• Treat with insecticide applications.

54
Nasal BotsHead bot, sheep bot, Oestrus ovis

• Occurs when female fly lays batches of newly
  hatched larvae in sheep or goats nostrils.
• 6-month life cycle. May be 2 generations per
  year.
• Symptoms sneezing, coughing, jerky movements of
  head.
• Can cause bacterial infections and reduce
  performance.
• Treat with ivermectin sheep drench.

55
A few other interesting health issues

• Hypothermia and Starvation
• Tetanus
• Pinkeye
• Entropion
• Spider lamb disease
• Epididymitis

56
Hypothermia and Starvationmost common causes of
lamb and kid mortality

• Starvation - 1 cause of death
• Make sure dam has milk and lets lambs/kids nurse
• Make sure lambs/kids consume adequate colostrum
  (check bellies).
• A well-fed lamb/kid stretches when it rises.
• Mild hypothermia (99-101º F)
• Dry and warm up lamb/kid
• Tube feed colostrum, if necessary
• Severe hypothermia (
• Intra peritoneal injection of 20 dextrose
• Slowly warm up lamb/kid
• Feed colostrum by stomach tube

57
Tetanuslock jaw

• Clostridial disease, in soil on most farms
• Usually related to docking and castrating,
  especially by elastrator bands
• Oxygen-starved tissues are ideal for tetanus
  organism
• Any puncture wound can harbor the tetanus
  organism.
• Symptoms stiffness caused by muscle
  contractions.
• Treatable in early stages with antitoxin.
• Prevent with vaccination
• Vaccinate ewe/doe with tetanus toxoid prior to
  parturition OR
• Vaccinate lamb/kid with tetanus antitoxin at time
  of docking, castrating, disbudding to provide
  immediate temporary immunity.

58
Pink eyekeratoconjunctivitis

• Most common causes are mycoplasma and chlamydia.
• Different agent than affects cattle
• Highly contagious
• Usually runs its course in 3 weeks
• Treat with topical and systemic antibiotics

59
EntropionInverted eyelid

• Lower eyelid is inverted, causing the eyelashes
  of the lower lid to brush against the eye
• Causes irritation and tearing
• Treat with antibiotics or staples, sutures, or
  clips
• Heritable trait dont use rams or bucks with
  this trait.

Infovets.com
60
Spider lamb diseaseovine hereditary
chondrodysplasia

• Genetic defect causing skeletal deformities.
• Inherited as a genetic recessive disorder
• SS - normal sheep
• Ss - normal sheep (but carrier)
• ss - spider lamb

DNA TestingWhite pedigree ancestors have not
produced spider lambsGray pedigree ancestors
have produced spider lambs
61
Epididymitis

• Venereal disease of rams/bucks caused by Brucella
  ovis.
• Contagiousmale to female, male to male
• Inflammation of the tip of the epididymis.
• Causes varying degrees of damage infertility.
• Only half of rams respond to antibiotic
  treatment.
• Damage is permanent.
• Prevention buy disease-free or virgin males,
  test and cull, vaccinate.

testicle
testicle
Epididymis
Epididymis functions in the transport and storage
of sperm cells produced in the testicles.
62
Wasting Diseases

• Viral (retroviruses)Similar to aids virus
• Ovine progressive pneumonia (OPP)
• Caprine Arthritic Encephalitis (CAE)
• Bacterial
• Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA)
• Johnes Disease
• Prion
• Scrapie

63
Caseous lymphadenitis (CL or CLA)cheesy gland,
boils, abscesses
Caused by bacteria Corynbacterium
pseudotuberculosis

• Internal (sheep) and external (goats) abscesses.
• Pus in external abscess is initially pale green
  becomes thicker in sheep.
• Usually affects animals 6 months of age.
• Animals with internal form show weight loss and
  poor productivity, and may exhibit mastitis,
  respiratory distress, chronic cough or
  neurological deficits.
• Internal form is a leading cause of sheep carcass
  condemnation.
• Treatment lance abscess and flush with iodine
  solution.

Zoonotic potential - ???
64
Caseous lymphadenitis (CL or CLA)cheesy gland,
abscesses, boils
Caused by bacteria Corynbacterium
pseudotuberculosis

• Controlling/eradicating CLA
• Separate or cull affected animals
• Practice good hygiene and management.
• Purchase from CLA-free flocks/herds.
• Vaccination can reduce severity of disease.
• Do not vaccinate naïve flocks/herds

65
Caprine Arthritic Encephalitis (CAE)

• Retroviral infection of goats which may lead to
  chronic disease of joints and encephalitis (rare)
  in young kids.
• Similar to OPP in sheep.
• CAE virus is primarily transmitted to kids
  through colostrum.
• Contact transmission is rare, but possible.
• No treatment or vaccine is available.

66
Caprine Arthritic Encephalitis (CAE)

• Control/eradicate CAE
• A positive blood test means the goat has
  antibodies for the virus.
• Cull seropositive goats from the herd.
• Separate kids from dams and feeding kids
  artificially.
• Buy from CAE-free herds.

67
Ovine Progressive Pneumonia (OPP)Maedi-Visna
26 of the sheep in the United States are
infected with the OPP virus

• A slowly progressive viral disease caused by an
  ovine lentivirus.
• Similar to CAE.
• Sheep are infected for life.
• Some breeds more susceptible
• Primary means of transmission is through the
  ingestion of infected colostrum and milk.
• Contact transmission possible.
• Symptoms
• Loss of body condition, thin ewe syndrome
• Increased breathing at rest
• Fever, cough, lethargy, nasal discharge
• Hard bag
• No treatment or vaccine

68
Ovine Progressive Pneumonia (OPP)

• Control/eradicate OPP
• Test and remove all seropositive sheep every six
  months until three consecutive negative tests
  are achieved.
• Presence of antibodies is not indicative of
  immunity
• Most infected sheep never show symptoms, but
  serve as carriers of the disease.
• Separate lambs from infected ewes and rear them
  artificially.
• Buy OPP-free breeding stock.

69
Johnes Disease paratuberculosis
Caused by bacteria Mycobacterium paratuberculosis
Victoria, Australia

• Cattle, sheep, and goat strains
• Environmental transmission
• Symptoms
• Emaciation, wasting disease
• Profuse, watery diarrhea seen in cattle is not
  common in sheep/goats

Small intestine
Ohio State University
www.johnes.org
70
Johnes Disease
Small intestine

• Difficult to diagnose.
• No treatment.
• Difficult to control.
• Prevention
• Maintain a closed flock/herd
• Be careful with cow colostrum
• Testing less reliable in sheep/goats
• Vaccination may lower the number of clinical
  cases
• Theoretical link to Crohns disease in people.

Ohio State Univ.
71
ScrapieGoal is to eradicate by 2010 and for U.S.
to be declared scrapie-free by 2017

• Fatal disease affecting the central nervous
  system of sheep and goats.
• Neurological symptoms
• Intense itching
• Behavior changes
• Lack of coordination
• Gait abnormalities
• Tremors
• Transmitted via infected placenta.
• Males not considered to be a risk.
• Can be spread by infected feed.
• Contact/environmental transmission ???
• Clinical signs appear 2 to 5 years (or later)
  after the animal has been infected.

72
ScrapieGoal is to eradicate by 2010 and for U.S.
to be declared scrapie-free by 2017

• In sheep, susceptibility is determined by
  genetics.
• Resistant genotypes have not been found it goats
  yet.
• Low incidence in USA
• 1/500 sheep.
• 90 in Suffolk/black face sheep.
• 15 goat cases since 1990
• Only Australia and New Zealand are considered
  scrapie-free.
• Scrapie is a transmissible spongiform
  encephalopathy (TSE).

73
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE)

• Many TSEs
• Theoretical link between scrapie and mad cow
  disease and between mad cow and new variant
  Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease in people.
• Always fatal.
• Infective agent believed to be a prion, abnormal
  protein.
• Long incubation periods.
• Diagnosis post-mortem (brain tissue).
• Massive regulations
• Massive research
• Many theories

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Scrapie EradicationGoal is to eradicate scrapie
by 2010 and or U.S. to be declared scrapie-free
by 2017.

• Increased slaughter surveillance.
• Mandatory identification of sheep and goats in
  commerce.
• Voluntary scrapie flock certification program.
• Recommended for flocks/herds selling breeding
  stock.
• Third eyelid testRectal biopsy
• Genotyping for scrapie susceptibility

Regulations vary by state.
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Questions, comments