Health and HygieneHealth and HygieneAround lambingAround lambing

Health and Hygiene – the linkHealth and Hygiene – the link

How do infections spread?How do infections spread? From animal to animal From animal to animal

• Faeces Faeces • UrineUrine• Birth fluidsBirth fluids• Sputum (cough) – aerosolsSputum (cough) – aerosols

From animal to humanFrom animal to human• Zoonotic diseasesZoonotic diseases

From animal via human/equipment to animalFrom animal via human/equipment to animal

Health and Hygiene – the linkHealth and Hygiene – the link

How do you stop spread of infections?How do you stop spread of infections? Keep ewes and lambs in lambing pensKeep ewes and lambs in lambing pens

• Animal to animal contact is less likelyAnimal to animal contact is less likely Clean out the lambing pens before re-useClean out the lambing pens before re-use

• Pathogens that were around in the straw / buckets / gates Pathogens that were around in the straw / buckets / gates are removedare removed

Clean clothes, hands and equipment between animal Clean clothes, hands and equipment between animal contactcontact

Keep bedding clean and dry Keep bedding clean and dry (pathogens don’t multiply so quickly in a dry (pathogens don’t multiply so quickly in a dry environment)environment)

Isolate ill animals until they are in good health againIsolate ill animals until they are in good health again

Abortions / Lambs born deadAbortions / Lambs born dead Numerous different infections can cause Numerous different infections can cause

abortion, as can stress by handlingabortion, as can stress by handling

Sheep abortions

VLA 2008

Chlamydophila abortus

Listeria spp

Salmonella Dublin

Salmonella not otherw ise specif ied

Bacillus licheniformis

Toxoplasmosis

A. pyogenes

Campylobacter

diagnosis not reached

other diagnosis

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

Coxiella

dystokia

ToxoplasmosisToxoplasmosis Toxoplasma gondii Toxoplasma gondii is a parasiteis a parasite

Infection in sheep in Infection in sheep in early pregnancyearly pregnancykills the foetus and ewes may present kills the foetus and ewes may present as as barrenbarren. .

Infection Infection later in pregnancylater in pregnancy may result in abortion, still births may result in abortion, still births and weakly lambs, often with a and weakly lambs, often with a mummified foetusmummified foetus. .

Following infection sheep are immune and should not abort Following infection sheep are immune and should not abort again due to toxoplasmosis. again due to toxoplasmosis.

There is an There is an effective vaccineeffective vaccine to prevent toxoplasmosis in to prevent toxoplasmosis in sheep. sheep.

Moredun Foundation Newsheet Volume 4 No 10

ToxoplasmosisToxoplasmosis

www.utmb.edu/gsbs/microbook/images/fig84_2.JPG

ToxoplasmaToxoplasma can cause serious disease in pregnant women can cause serious disease in pregnant women and immuno-compromised people. Infection in pregnant and immuno-compromised people. Infection in pregnant women may seriously damage or even kill the unborn child.women may seriously damage or even kill the unborn child.

Contact with lambing fluids

Chlamydia / Chlamydia / Enzootic abortionEnzootic abortion

Caused by a bacterium Caused by a bacterium Chlamydophila abortus.Chlamydophila abortus.

Levels of abortion can Levels of abortion can build up in a flock in the build up in a flock in the years following the years following the introduction of infection. introduction of infection.

C. abortus C. abortus causes severe causes severe illness in pregnant women illness in pregnant women and they should avoid all and they should avoid all contact, either direct or contact, either direct or indirect, with lambing ewes.indirect, with lambing ewes.

Diagnosis is based on examination of aborted lambs and Diagnosis is based on examination of aborted lambs and placentas at veterinary laboratories and through blood placentas at veterinary laboratories and through blood testing of ewes. testing of ewes.

Oxytetracycline can be used to treat in-lamb ewes during Oxytetracycline can be used to treat in-lamb ewes during an outbreak to reduce the number of abortions. an outbreak to reduce the number of abortions.

There are vaccines available to protect ewes.There are vaccines available to protect ewes.

Replacement stock are an important potential source of Replacement stock are an important potential source of infection.infection.

Flocks can become accredited free of EAE Flocks can become accredited free of EAE

Chlamydia abortionChlamydia abortionEnzootic abortionEnzootic abortion

Abortions – What to doAbortions – What to do Extreme good personal hygieneExtreme good personal hygiene Separate aborting ewes, until vaginal Separate aborting ewes, until vaginal

discharge has ceased (up to 3 weeks)discharge has ceased (up to 3 weeks) Identify the ewes for later blood Identify the ewes for later blood

sampling or cullingsampling or culling Send off foetus or vaginal swab for investigationSend off foetus or vaginal swab for investigation Treat ill ewes with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugsTreat ill ewes with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs Biosecurity & hygiene measures must be a priorityBiosecurity & hygiene measures must be a priority

Bought in sheep should mix with the flock at least 3 Bought in sheep should mix with the flock at least 3 months before tupping, and should be lambed separately months before tupping, and should be lambed separately in their 1in their 1stst season season

Watery Mouth in lambsWatery Mouth in lambs

E. Coli bacterium from the environment E. Coli bacterium from the environment infects newborn lambsinfects newborn lambs

Quick deterioration and deathQuick deterioration and death

Prevent!Prevent! Hygiene: clean and dry environmentHygiene: clean and dry environment Quick intake of good colostrumQuick intake of good colostrum Some flocks use a standard anti-biotic Some flocks use a standard anti-biotic

treatment for every newborn lambtreatment for every newborn lamb

Navel infectionsNavel infections

Navel abscessNavel abscess Infection can spread inside towards the liver or urinary Infection can spread inside towards the liver or urinary

systemsystem Spread to the jointsSpread to the joints

Joint illJoint ill

Prevention!Prevention! Navel dipping / thorough sprayNavel dipping / thorough spray Clean and dry environmentClean and dry environment Good colostrumGood colostrum

What are the hazards?What are the hazards?

Imagine that Mr. Kirk finds a ewe aborting;Imagine that Mr. Kirk finds a ewe aborting; What should be done with the ewe ?What should be done with the ewe ? Describe how you deliver the lambs Describe how you deliver the lambs What should be done with the lambs and the What should be done with the lambs and the

ewe after lambing ?ewe after lambing ? Are the pens and the shed easy to clean and Are the pens and the shed easy to clean and

disinfect ? disinfect ? • Any suggestions ?Any suggestions ?

Signs of health in sheepSigns of health in sheep Bright and alertBright and alert Clear eyesClear eyes No salivatingNo salivating Breathing: Breathing:

Regular, calm, deepRegular, calm, deep

Normal faeces & dry hind quarters Normal faeces & dry hind quarters Normal gait (not stiff or lame)Normal gait (not stiff or lame) Even udder, not hot, not hard, no lumpsEven udder, not hot, not hard, no lumps Body Temperature: 39.0 Body Temperature: 39.0 °C (102.0 °F)°C (102.0 °F)

Common things around lambingCommon things around lambing

Vaginal prolapse before Vaginal prolapse before lambinglambing Ewes often need assistance Ewes often need assistance

at lambing at lambing Prolapse of the uterus after lambingProlapse of the uterus after lambing

Check any ewe 1 hour after lambingCheck any ewe 1 hour after lambing

Ewe spoon or harness is used in Ewe spoon or harness is used in case of a vaginal prolapsecase of a vaginal prolapse Put a harness on one of the ewes today!Put a harness on one of the ewes today!

OrfOrf

Virus which spreads quickly via direct contact, even in well Virus which spreads quickly via direct contact, even in well managed flocksmanaged flocks

Causes painful lesions on the lips & mouthCauses painful lesions on the lips & mouth Can spread to the ewe’s teats and result in the ewe Can spread to the ewe’s teats and result in the ewe

denying the lambs to suck and mastitisdenying the lambs to suck and mastitis Prevent nasty secundary infections by using Prevent nasty secundary infections by using

oxytetracycline sprayoxytetracycline spray Wash your hands, beware of cuts, Wash your hands, beware of cuts,

you don’t want to catch orf yourselfyou don’t want to catch orf yourself Vaccination can help in affected flocksVaccination can help in affected flocks

Sore eyesSore eyes

Cloudy eyes, tears runningCloudy eyes, tears running Entropion Entropion (lambs born with a curled-in eyelid)(lambs born with a curled-in eyelid) Eye infection spreading through the flock Eye infection spreading through the flock

(e.g. via close sheep-to-sheep contact or via silage)(e.g. via close sheep-to-sheep contact or via silage)

Twin lamb diseaseTwin lamb disease

Ewe in last month of pregnancyEwe in last month of pregnancy Energy deficiencyEnergy deficiency

Can’t eat enoughCan’t eat enough Lambs take in space in the abdomenLambs take in space in the abdomen Lambs demand energy for growthLambs demand energy for growth

Ewe is dull and this Ewe is dull and this

gets worse, the ewe gets worse, the ewe

does not get updoes not get up

Check the sheep Check the sheep

We’ll discuss any abnormalities you find!We’ll discuss any abnormalities you find! Are you not sure, just ask!Are you not sure, just ask! Put on a harnessPut on a harness