Common Health Concerns
of
Small Ruminants
Lincoln
University
Charlotte Clifford-Rathert, DVM
Cooperative Extension and Research
Assistant Professor
State Extension Specialist, Small Ruminants
clifford-rathertc@lincolnu.edu
General diseases
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Hoof diseases
Caseous lymphadenitis
Enterotoxemia
Ketosis
OPP and CAE
Urinary Calculi
Pink eye
Polio
Tetanus
Mastitis
Zoonotic Diseases
Soremouth
Ringworm
Toxoplasmosis
Foot rot
One of the most devastating sheep and goat diseases.
Caused by an interaction involving two types of
anaerobic bacteria.
– Bacteroides nodosus
• Can live only in animal’s foot
• Can be eradicated from flock
• Foot rot cannot occur without
it.
• Does not survive longer than
two weeks in soil, but may
remain in hooves of infected
sheep for extended periods.
– Fusobacterium necrophorum
• Aids in penetration of B.
nodosus into the skin and
tissues
• Normal inhabitant of soil and
sheep manure and is always
present where sheep are
raised
Foot Rot
• EXTREMELY CONTAGIOUS
• Ideal conditions:
– 40 to 70 degrees F
– Wet environment
– Dirty (manure) environment
– Overgrown hooves
• Organism is very virulent
• Odiferous, can cause hoof wall
to separate
Foot rot
• Lameness
• One or more feet
• Starts with moist reddened
area between toes Foot Scald
• Infection spreads under the
sole and wall of the hoof.
• Different from -–
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Foot abscess (bumble foot)
Founder (laminitis)
Injuries
Foreign bodies
Foot rot
• Spread from infected sheep
to moist soil and back to
non-infected sheep.
• Most commonly introduced
to clean flock by purchase
of infected sheep. Also
mixing with infected flock
and use of contaminated
facilities.
Treatment
• Isolate infected animals
• Penicillin
• Tetracycline
• Intradigital (LA-200)
• Crumbles top dress
feed
• 10% copper sulfate foot bath
• 10% zinc sulfate foot bath
• Hydrated Lime / drylot
• Therapeutic foot trimming
Caseous Lymphadenitis
(Contagious Abscesses or Boils)
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A chronic bacterial infection
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Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis
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Common cause of abscesses, internal
and external
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Incubation period 2-6 months or
longer; can survive for long periods of
time in soil, in barns, or on
contaminated equipment
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Slow-growing firm abscesses that
eventually rupture and drain,
contaminating environment
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Treatment: isolation of infected
animals, surgical excision of
abscesses, clean and treat wounds
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Diagnosis by culture of organism from
abscess contents and serological test
Caseous lymphadenitis
CLA, boils, abscesses, cheesy gland disorder
• The contents of these abscesses is pale
green in the early stages which turns
cream as the abscess hardens and
becomes “cheesy” or “caseous” or looks
like an onion (surgical removal).
• Bacteria gain entry into the animal
through a wound; (Skin wounds or
mucous membranes)
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Localizing in one or more lymph nodes
(secondary: inhalation, ingestion,
penetration through intact skin)
Superficial (external) abscesses
• One or more abscesses
around the head and
neck or at the junction
of the legs and body
– Sheep – shoulder (near
the neck), thigh (near the
flank)
– Goats – under the jaw or
on the neck
• Easily spreads to other
animals, if breaks open
Visceral (internal) abscesses
More common with sheep
• Involves the lymph
nodes and other organs
(kidney and liver)
• Causes weight loss,
poor health, reduced
wool and milk
production
– “Thin ewe syndrome”
• Third most important
cause of carcass
condemnation
Treatment of CLA
External abscesses
• Sample abscess – not all are
CLA
• Antibiotics not effective
• Lance and flush superficial
abscesses with iodine
• Keep animal(s) isolated until
wound heels
• Dispose of material carefully
Control and Prevention
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Isolate infected animals
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Purchase CLA negative animals, serological testing available (ELISA,
AGID, PCR)
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Facilities should be free of nails, wire, and other objects that might induce
breaks in the skin
•
Control of external parasites, prevent goats from rubbing against sharp
objects
•
DO NOT REUSE NEEDLES
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Clean all tattooers, shears, surgical instruments between animals
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Treat all wounds promptly
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Vaccination?? may help to control disease if already on farm, vaccine will
cause abscess at site of vaccination
Enterotoxemia
Overeating disease, pulpy kidney disease
•
Clostridium perfringins
type C or D
 C - baby lambs 2-3
weeks
 D – older lambs
• May be most common
bacterial pathogen
• Normal flora in warm
blooded animals
• Flora disturbed by dietary
change
Enterotoxemia
• Affected animals are
usually found dead!
• Common in lambs/kids
consuming concentrates.
• Symptoms in live animal
– Depression
– Abdominal pain
– Teeth grinding
– Twitching or convulsions
– Can be similar to other
diseases (E. coli scours,
encephalitis)
• Treatment (not rewarding)
Preventing enterotoxemia
• Vaccinate
– Ewes – 2-3 wks before
lambing
– Does – every 6 months
– Lambs/Kids – at 4-6
weeks, then 2-3 weeks
later.
– Vaccine may be combined
with other clostridial
diseases: CD-T (type C &
D overeating, tetanus)
• Avoid sudden changes in
feed
Pregnancy Toxemia
Ketosis, Pregnancy disease, Twin lamb disease, Lambing paralysis
• Occurs during last trimester of
pregnancy when fetus(es) are
growing rapidly.
• Caused by low glucose
concentrations in the blood
and excessive breakdown of
body fat to compensate.
– Ketones – toxic by-product
• Caused by inadequate
nutrition during late pregnancy.
Females most susceptible
• Females carrying
multiple fetuses
• Thin ewes
• Fat ewes
• Timid ewes
• Granny ewes
Symptoms
Similar symptoms as milk
fever.
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Off feed
Lethargy
Droopy head
Lag behind flock
Teeth grinding
Twitching
Depression
Weaknesses
Poor muscle control
Unable to rise
Coma and death
Treatment
• Early detection
• Quickly meet energy
needs of ewe
– Glucose orally (e.g.
propylene glycol)
– Glucose intravenously
Differentiated from milk fever
by response to treatment(s).
• Force feed and vitamin
injections to stimulate
appetite
• Antibiotics to prevent
pneumonia
• C-Section in advanced
stages
Prevention
• Proper body condition
(3+/5) during midpregnancy.
• Adequate nutrition during
late pregnancy
(especially energy).
Good quality hay + grain
supplementation.
• Adequate feeder space
• Exercise
• Avoid abrupt changes in
feed.
Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis
(CAE)
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More common in dairy goats
•
Virus shed in colostrum, milk, aerosol
droplets, and other body secretions.
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Transmitted via colostrum/milk, and
blood-contaminated tools
•
Not a problem in range raised meat
goats
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Neurological form in kids 2-6 months
of age to adult
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Respiratory and arthritic form common
in adults
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Diagnosis by ELISA, AGID, and PCR
testing
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NO treatment
•
Stress and poor management will
influence clinical appearance
Prevention and Control
• Remove Kids at birth
• Feed heat treated colostrum/ milk
• Isolate infected animals and cull
• Milk the infected does last
• Do not share needles/ equipment
• Test kids at 6 month intervals
Ovine Progressive Pneumonia
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Atypical pneumonia of sheep caused by a virus
Ovine Lentivirus
Numerous strains
Closely related to CAE virus in goats
Long incubation period (2-4 years) therefore seen in
older ewes
Once infected, remain infected for life
Transmission by ingestion of milk or colostrum from
infected ewe, or direct contact with nasal discharge
droplets in overcrowded conditions.
Virus is short-lived in the environment
Diagnosis by ELISA, AGID, and PCR
Clinical signs
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“thin ewe syndrome”,
hard bag,
increased effort to breath, coughing,
lethargy
nasal discharge,
fever,
arthritis, unsteady gait progressing to hind limb
paralysis
Urinary Calculi
water belly, urolithiasis, and calculosis
• Metabolic disease of wethers and rams characterized by the
formation of calculi (stones) within the urinary tract
• Blockage of the urethra by calculi causes retention of urine,
abdominal pain, distention and rupture of the urethra or bladder
• The most common cause of urinary calculi is feeding rations
with high phosphorus levels. The ratio of calcium to phosphorus
in the ration should be at least 2:1
• Addition of ammonium chloride to the ration will aid in
preventing urinary calculi.
Urinary Calculi
• It is also important that animals
have an ample supply of clean,
potable water.
• The addition of salt to the
ration will increase water
intake and decrease stone
formation
• Correlation to hard water areas
and increased frequency
Pinkeye
Infectious Keratoconjunctivitis
• Highly contagious disease affecting the eyes of sheep and goats
• Bacteria: Chlamydia and Mycoplasma
• The disease will usually complete its course in three weeks in
individuals
• The use of eye medications containing antibiotics may be helpful in
individual cases
• There are no effective vaccines available
(The agent that causes pinkeye in sheep and goats is different
from the one that causes it in cattle)
Polioencephalomylacia
• Also called polio
• Caused by a vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency
• Since the rumen manufactures B vitamins, polio is not caused
by insufficient thiamine, but rather the ability to utilize it
• Most common symptom is blindness and star gazing
• Common scenario to overdose of Corid (treatment for
Coccidiosis)
Tetanus
(Clostridium tetani)
• A soil inhabitant that is a prolific spore producer
• Usually related to docking and castrating by elastrator bands,
though any wound can harbor the tetanus organism
• Tetanus occur from about four days to three weeks or longer
after infection is established in a wound
• Symptoms include stiff gait, "lockjaw“, and third eyelid may
protrude across the eye. Animal will usually go down or stand
with all four legs held out straight and stiff and the head drawn
back. Convulsions may occur and animal dies
• Treatment consists of the tetanus anti-serum and antibiotics. It is
usually unrewarding
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Prevented by vaccinating
* If you have horses or had them on your property you need to
vaccinate against tetanus
Mastitis
Hard bag , Blue bag
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Staphylococcus aureus and Pasteurella hemolytica
Two types of mastitis: acute and chronic
Affected ewe/doe may be reluctant to walk
May hold up one rear foot
May not permit her lambs/kids to nurse
– Resist milking
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Ewes with chronic mastitis often go undetected.
Mastitis is treated with antibiotics
Prevented by good management and sanitation.
Observe and handle udders
Zoonotic Diseases
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*Ringworm
Campylobacter
Chlamydiosis
*Contagious ecthyma (“Orf” or sore mouth)
*Cryptosporidiosis
Leptospirosis
*Listeriosis
*Rabies
Salmonellosis
*Toxoplasmosis
Q Fever
Tuberculosis
Brucellosis
What is a zoonotic disease?
A disease that is transmissible between
animals and humans.
Soremouth
Contagious ecthyma, contagious pustular dermatitis, scabby mouth, orf
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Common skin disease of sheep and
goats.
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Caused by a Parapox virus
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Virus spreads through direct contact
and contact with contaminated
facilities and tools
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Lesions most commonly seen on
mouth, lips, and nostrils, but may
also occur on udder and between
toes.
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Extremely infectious
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Dried scabs harbor virus
Soremouth
• Animals that develop the disease usually develop a
strong immunity
• May be severe in lambs and kids
• Numerous strains – incubation period may vary from 1 to
3 weeks
• The disease will clear up in one to four weeks
Soremouth
• Treatment not effective on a
flock basis
• Treat lesions with antibiotic
spray or cream (e.g. vasoline
+ iodine, Biozide ®)
Effectiveness marginal
• Ewes with infected
teats/udders need to be
watched for mastitis
• Lambs/kids may spread the
disease to other ewes/does.
Prevention of Soremouth
• Maintain a closed flock
• Do not show
• Vaccinate (only if you
have had disease)
– In a hairless protected area
– Scabs will appear 1 to 3
days after vaccination
– 6 weeks before show
season
Orf
• Sore mouth is contagious
to humans (painful).
• Need to be careful when
working with infected
animals and when
working with live vaccine.
• Wear gloves
Ringworm
Woolrot, Lumpy Wool, Club Lamb Fungus, and Dermatophytosis
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Fungal : Microsporum, Trichophytum
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VERY CONTAGIOUS
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Hairless scaly crusty red circular lesion on face, ears,
neck, and sometimes legs.
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Diagnos is based on observation
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Self-limiting in 1-4 months,
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Treat by clipping, exposing areas to air,
scrubbing with iodine solution daily for
5-7 days and then weekly if not clearing.
Topical antifungal agents
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Isolate affected animals
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Wear gloves, and clean all equipment
Ringworm
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Prevention
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Proper nutrition and care.
Keep sheep and barns as dry as possible.
Avoid nicks and cuts when shearing.
Disinfect equipment (shearing equipment, etc.) with a commercial
fungicide.
Wash and shear show lambs as little as possible.
Use protective gloves when handling infected animals.
Quarantine new arrivals before mixing with flock.
Separate infected from non-infected sheep.
Disinfect pens as needed.
Show equipment such as blankets, towels, and halters should be
cleaned between animals.
Persons handling infected or exposed animals should wear rubber
gloves and clothing with long sleeves. Wash thoroughly after
handling animals and wash clothes thoroughly.
Animals with active lesions should be removed from shows.
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Ringworm
• Why is it important to you?
• It moves from flock to flock or from flock to
person through contact.
• Sheep can still be contagious without exhibiting
external signs of carrying the fungus.
• The fungus is thought to be very hardy and can
live for years in barns and equipment hidden from
direct sunlight waiting for growing conditions to
encourage development.
Ringworm
Enzootic Abortion in Ewes (EAE)
(Chlamydia psittici)
• Chlamydia is the most common cause of abortion in
ewes
• Transmitted from aborting sheep to susceptible
individuals
• Ewe lambs are usually the most susceptible
• Abortion during the last month of pregnancy
• Birth of lambs that die shortly after birth
• May cause pneumonia in young lambs
• Chlamydia abortions can usually be stopped or reduced
by treating entire flock with tetracycline. High levels
may be required in problem flocks
• Vaccine is available
Toxoplamosis
• Protozoan: Toxoplasma gondii
• Important cause abortion, mummification, still births, and birth of
weak kids and lambs
• Cats serve as the definitive host; shed oocysts in feces
• If goat ingests oocysts when pregnant, organism can invade
placenta and fetus within 2 weeks. Fetuses infected in the first half
of pregnancy are more apt to die than fetuses infected later.
• Diagnosis: Doe and fetal serology (fetal fluids) is very specific test,
histopathology of placental tissue
Toxoplasmosis
• Prevention and Control:
– avoid contamination of feed by cats by storing grain in covered
containers. Maintain population of neutered cats, and do not
feed raw meat to cats
– Encourage exposure of does/ewes to cats before breeding to
develop protective immunity
– Evidence that Rumensin® and Deccox® will partially prevent
toxoplasmosis in pregnant ewes.
• Aborted fetuses and placentas should be disposed of properly,
wearing gloves when handling these items, proper pasteurization of
milk and cooking of meat.
• Pregnant women should be especially careful.
Vibriosis
(Vibrio Campylobacteriosis)
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Abortion during last month of pregnancy, stillborn lambs, and birth of
weak lambs are typical of vibrio abortions.
High abortion rates have been recorded (up to 70 percent).
Two strains - Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter fetus.
Ewes are infected by oral ingestion.
Incubation period from the time of infection and abortion is only two
weeks.
Vaccination can be effective in the face of an outbreak.
Feeding of antibiotics (tetracyclines) has been shown to be effective.
Less effective if C. jejuni strain.
Disease spread can be prevented by isolating aborting ewes, disposal
of fetus and membranes and disinfecting affected area.
Infected ewes usually recover after aborting and are immune to reinfection.
A vaccine is available for Vibrio.
Vibrio vaccines – buy those that contain both intestinalis and jejuni
strains.
Summary
Preventative health care and good management are key
to successful production and profit; saving time and
money in the long run.
Acknowledgements
• Susan Schoenian – University of Maryland Cooperative
Extension Area Sheep and Goat Specialist
• Bruce Lane – Regional Livestock Specialist, University of
Missouri Extension
• Dr. Beth Walker – Assistant Professor, Missouri State
University
• Jim Humphrey - Regional Livestock Specialist, University of
Missouri Extension
• Randy Saner - Regional Livestock Specialist, University of
Nebraska Extension
• Ken Bolte – Agriculture Business Specialist, University of
Missouri Extension
• Chris Zumbrunnen – Regional Livestock Specialist, University
of Missouri Extension
• Dr. Dave Patterson – State Extension Animal Scientist,
University of Missouri
• Dr. Marcia Patterson - State Extension Animal Scientist,
University of Missouri