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SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 137
Chlamydia. psittaci is spread to other pregnant ewes by contact with ewes in the process of aborting, it can also be spread through infected fetal membranes, uterine discharges, or a dead fetus.
If the problem is introduced to a hitherto clean flock, the rate of abortion can be as much as 60%, however after a couple of years, this drops to around 5%.
Although vaccinations are available, they cannot help during an outbreak. The signs of vibrosis and this disease are similar, therefore laboratory analysis must be used to identify the exact cause of an abortion.
The good news is that the vaccination for this disease EAE-vibro vaccine protects from both.
If an outbreak of this disease occurs, administering 300-500 mg per sheep of tetracycline per day helps to bring the problem under control. If more than one ewe aborts, start this treatment immediately and continue until test results come back. This disease (EAE) is contagious, therefore aborting ewes should be removed from the flock and kept in quarantine for 30 days – all the bedding from quarantine pens must be burned.
Vibriosis:
The culprit of this disease is bacteria called Campylobacter fetus. This type of bacteria lives in the gallbladder and intestine of the ewe, it then invades the uterus, placenta and fetus during late pregnancy. If Campylobacter fetus is introduced to a clean flock, then 90% of the ewes will lose their lambs, the good news is that once this has happened, the ewes become immune to the bacteria and won't abort on account of this again. The bad news is they can be carriers and contaminate both feed and water supplies which mean ewes that were unaffected previously can become infected.
To counteract this disease ewes can be vaccinated at the beginning of the breeding season and there after given a booster 90 days later. Once vaccinated, they will require just one annual booster. Ask your vet if he recommends the use of tetracycline or a penicillin preparation for treating ewes in a newly inflected flock.
Toxoplasmosis:
Toxoplasmosis is caused by a microscopic protozoan, and can cause abortion. Its natural host is a cat, other hosts can include humans.
It is a parasite that invades many tissues and cause infections in the brain, eyes, uterus, fetal membranes, and the fetus itself.
If the problem is introduced to a hitherto clean flock, the rate of abortion can be as much as 60%, however after a couple of years, this drops to around 5%.
Although vaccinations are available, they cannot help during an outbreak. The signs of vibrosis and this disease are similar, therefore laboratory analysis must be used to identify the exact cause of an abortion.
The good news is that the vaccination for this disease EAE-vibro vaccine protects from both.
If an outbreak of this disease occurs, administering 300-500 mg per sheep of tetracycline per day helps to bring the problem under control. If more than one ewe aborts, start this treatment immediately and continue until test results come back. This disease (EAE) is contagious, therefore aborting ewes should be removed from the flock and kept in quarantine for 30 days – all the bedding from quarantine pens must be burned.
Vibriosis:
The culprit of this disease is bacteria called Campylobacter fetus. This type of bacteria lives in the gallbladder and intestine of the ewe, it then invades the uterus, placenta and fetus during late pregnancy. If Campylobacter fetus is introduced to a clean flock, then 90% of the ewes will lose their lambs, the good news is that once this has happened, the ewes become immune to the bacteria and won't abort on account of this again. The bad news is they can be carriers and contaminate both feed and water supplies which mean ewes that were unaffected previously can become infected.
To counteract this disease ewes can be vaccinated at the beginning of the breeding season and there after given a booster 90 days later. Once vaccinated, they will require just one annual booster. Ask your vet if he recommends the use of tetracycline or a penicillin preparation for treating ewes in a newly inflected flock.
Toxoplasmosis:
Toxoplasmosis is caused by a microscopic protozoan, and can cause abortion. Its natural host is a cat, other hosts can include humans.
It is a parasite that invades many tissues and cause infections in the brain, eyes, uterus, fetal membranes, and the fetus itself.