Neonataln Lamb Diseases

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neonatal bacteraemias ( path, syndromes)

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path - colostrum deprived lambs leading to opportunistic infections eg E.Coli, Mannheimia haemolytica, pasteurella multocida, Arcanobacterium pyogenes, Staph A, Strep. dysgalactiae

syndromes - joint ill, spinal abcesses, navel ill, meningitis

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joint ill ( age, clinical signs, treatment)

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age - usually 2-3 weeks can be as young as 3 days

signs- polyarthritis - common in stiffle and carpus causes sudden onset lameness, not sucking. With strep. dysgalactiae it is common to have involvment of the atlanto-occiptal joint

treatment- hit hard with antibiotics and keep it sucking eg mycotil- macrolide - at high doses.

Front 3

apart from joint ill what other causes of arthritis are there

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tick pyaemia - staph. and erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

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tick pyaemia ( cause, age, clinical signs, prevention)

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staph. from tick infected pasture

age - 2-10 weeks

signs- lameness, ill thrift, signs due to locaslisation in other organs. Arthritis

prevention- control ticks, AB prevention

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Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae ( age, signs, treatment)

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age- OLDER lambs 2-6 months.

signs- lame, pyrexic, joints not severly swollen esp in early stages.

treatment- pen. (vaccine avaible).

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spinal abscesses (age, signs,treatment)

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age- 4-12 weeks

signs- depends on location ( usually T2-L3).dog sitting posture due to spastic paralysis of hindlimbs.

treatment- poor response unless give AB for a long time.

Front 7

meningitis (age, signs,treatment)

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age- 4-6 weeks

signs- hyperaesthesia, seizures, ataxia, drpressed, epsicleral congestion, dorsal strabismus. Initial fever then decreases as they die.

treatment- poor response but can try NSAIDs and AB which cross the BBB eg quinolones or flurfenicols

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border disease ( cause, signs, treatment)

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cause- pestivirus closely related to BVD virus and can cause BVD in cattle but rare.

signs- abortion, usually foetal death or reabsorption, lambs which survive will be hairy shakers- low birth weight/limbs abnormal long fine bones with immobile joints/narrow head, short mandible, domed skull. / nervous signs- tremor, ataxia, hypermetria./hairy and abnormally pigmented fleece

treatment- euthanaesia

Front 9

trace element deficiencies ( common ones)

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iodine ( areas near the sea)

copper -swayback(congenital)

selenium - congenital white muscle disease. EU is deficient.

cobalt deficient (fertiliser?)

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iodine deficiency ( causes and clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment)

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causes- high levels of thiocyanate goitrogens eg white clover which blocks the uptake of inorganic iodine by the thyroid.

signs- goitre, scant wool , hight mortality of young due to starvation and hypothermia

diagnosis- best is PM ( measure the weight of the thyroid to body weight) also plamsa but just a snap shot.

treatment- IM injection pre mating, oral dose 8 and 4 weeks before lambing, rumen bolus. can give oral to lambs.

Front 11

copper deficiency ( signs, cause, types, diagnosis, treatment)

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signs-swayback in lambs.

congenital form - small, weak lambs, depressed corneal reflex, head tremor. less severe - poor coordination, difficultly finding teat predisposing it to neonatal infections. Hopeless prognosis so euthanise.

delayed form- normal at birth. progressive hindlimb weakness from 2-4 months with muscle atrophy. responds to supplements sometimes.

diganosis- clinical signs and history and liver copper assay and CNS histo.

cause - mild winters cause less supplementation also copper absorption is impaired by high levels of molybdenum and sulphur due to certain soil types crops eg kale. certain breeds eg scotishblack face are more susceptible.

supplements- oral salts ( short term)/ SC or IM mid gestation/ copper capsules or bolus ( long term)

NOTE TEXELs are susceptible to toxicity. so in general it is better to have a diagnosis prior to treatment.

Front 12

selimium deficiency ( how common, forms and signs, prevention)

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uncommon as there is much supplementation.

severe non inflammatory degeneration and necrosis of skletal and cardiac muscle.

forms and signs- congenital - stillbirths and weak lambs. delayed onset form- older lambs - sudden onset associated with stress eg handling and transport. Stiff and unable to stand and may have pharyngeal paralysis so they find it hard to suck.

prevention- supplement ewes at least 6 weeks prior to lambing

Front 13

what congenital abnormalities are associated with viral infections in UK sheep

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border disease virus, blue toung virus, schmallenberg

Front 14

what info might you want from a farmer who has a problem with too few lambs

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breed/ewe-ram ratio/BCS of ewes and their nutrition during pregnancy/ age of ewes with losses/ managment of ewes at lambing- housing, feeding, supervision and shelter/ stage at which losses occur/ clincial signs/ hygiene of environment/ lamb management after birth - navel, docking, castration and colostrum/ vaccination programs/ history of trace element deficiencies and supplements.

Front 15

when do lamb losses occur around lambing

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Front 16

PM ( what do you look for/ how many do you need )

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look for > 20 lambs min 10/ weight/ feet- has it walked / umbilical cord - is there a clot/ are lungs inflated/ signs of trauma/ brown fat deposits in pericardium and kidney/ food content/ subcut oedema due to dystocia/ thyroid weight/ evidence of sepsis or an infection

Front 17

what managment practices will reduce lamb loss

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Adequate skilled manpower

Easily accessed lambing pens & good lighting

Compact lambing period

Strict hygiene in lambing accommodation – group & individual

Stocking rate indoors – not more than 1 ewe/1.1m2; individual pens at least 3.0m2 (1 pen/8 housed ewes)

Dip navels in strong iodine solution (or tetracycline spray) at birth (+ 4 hours later)

Appropriate genetics

Appropriate nutritional management at tupping and through the pregnancy

Ensure adequate intake of colostrum during first 4 hours – 50ml/kg by stomach tube if necessary

Provision of hot water, disinfectants & clean lambing equipment

Regular checking of all penned lambs – demeanour, full stomachs, navels

Front 18

how much colostrum does a lamb need and what are the alternatives to fresh colostrum

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5kg lamb requires 1 litre of colostrum (20% body weight) in first 18-24 hours of life – feeds of up to 5% body weight.

alternatives- frozen from other ewes/ cows- 20 % less energy,larger volume required, cows need to be vaccinated against clostridial diseases and anaemia may result./ powder- from cow, expensive.

cow col. anaemia- seen in 10 -12 day old lambs ( rare). Can screen for AB. pooling reduces the risk.