#sheep health

[vetschooliscool]

maedi-visna virus

MVV: a lentivirus causing encephalitis and pneumonitis in adult sheep. the incubation period is very long. transmission is horizontal via nasal secretions, or vertical via colostrum and milk. it is one of the main causes of chronic wasting in sheep.

Signalment: herd disease of older sheep

History: wasting, increased lamb mortality, increased culling rate

Exam: weight loss is the main clinical sign but progressive paralysis, mastitis, and coughing may be seen

Differentials: ovine pulmonary adenomatosis (jaagsiekte), lungworm, listeriosis, dental disease, endoparasitism

Diagnosis: serological testing via PCR (direct for antigen), antibody ELISA

Treatment: none. To control MVV requires either complete destock-restock of lambing herd (to eliminate the carriers) or establishment of a separate herd, with lambs separated from ewes at birth and fed milk replacer (to eliminate HZ transmission of the virus).

Prevention: none. No vaccination. Quarantine and test sheep before introducing to the flock.

[jtwhite5]

Hope

Paisley, April 12, 2017

Paisley is our 3-year old Shetland ewe that is due any day now. She and Nessa were both due this past week, and after Nessa’s unexpected passing, I worried about Paisley’s health. It is difficult, sometimes, to separate my own anxiety from my barnyard’s mood and I have to be careful not to project too much. However, Paisley was off her feed, she would dump her bowl over,…