Lamb Diseases

Question 1

List common lamb diseases

Answer 1

Watery mouth
Scour
Lamb dysentery
Spinal abscess
Meningitis
Border disease
Neonatal bacteraemia

Question 2

Describe the pathogenesis of watery mouth

Answer 2

1-3 d
Triplets > 1/2
Increased losses from the 2nd week of lambing
Cause - non-ETEC = bacteraemia/septicaemia

Question 3

What are the clinical signs of watery mouth?

Answer 3

Depression
Lethargy
Anorexia
Hypersalivation
Abdominal distension
\+/- hypothermia

Question 4

How is watery mouth treated?

Answer 4

Oral Ab - Spectinomycin (Spectam), Neomycin, Streptomycin (Orojet)

Question 5

Which infectious agents cause scour in lambs?

Answer 5

ETEC, Salmonella, Cryptosporidum, Coccidiosis

Question 6

What are the clinical signs and treatment for ETEC scour?

Answer 6

CS -

Question 7

What are the clinical signs and treatment for Salmonella scour?

Answer 7

CS - profuse, bloody, foetid d+; depression; dehydration

Tx - FT, broad spec Ab, NSAID

Question 8

What are the clinical signs and treatment for Crypto?

Answer 8

CS - 2-20d, acute onset, profuse watery d+, dehydration, inappetance, lethargy
Tx - oral FT, Halocur off license, move to clean pen
Some recover after 5-7d but have subsequent ill thrift

Question 9

Describe the pathogenesis, CS, dx and tx of lamb dysentery

Answer 9

Path - 1-3d = fatal, 2-3wks = insidious onset, Cl. perfringens B
CS - acute abdominal pain, +/- nervous signs, +/- semi-fluid bloody faeces, enteritis
Dx - hx, CS, PM, ELISA, gram +ve rod in intestinal smear

Question 10

Describe the pathogenesis, CS, dx and tx of spinal abscesses

Answer 10

Path - 4-12 wk old, sporadic
CS - depends on abscess location, T2-L3 = ‘dog sitting’ posture, spastic paralysis
Tx - poor response, cull

Question 11

Describe the pathogenesis, CS, dx and tx of meningitis

Answer 11

Path - 4-6 wk old, sporadic
CS - episcleral congestion, dorsal strabismus, weak/ataxic, depressed, stupor, seizure, pyrexia, hyperaesthesia
Tx - early and aggressive, Ab, NSAID, nursing. Poor response

Question 12

Describe the pathogenesis, CS, dx and tx of Border disease

Answer 12

Path - pestivirus related to BVD, rare cause of abortion

Question 13

Which infectous agents are associated with neonatal bacteraemia?

Answer 13

Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Staphylococcus, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

Question 14

Describe the pathogenesis, CS, dx and tx of Strep bacteraemia

Answer 14

Path -

Question 15

Describe the pathogenesis, CS, dx and tx of Staph bacteraemia (tick pyaemia)

Answer 15

Path - 2-10 wks old, recently turned out
CS - lameness, ill thrift, systemic signs
Tx - control ticks, prophylactic Ab

Question 16

Describe the pathogenesis, CS, dx and tx of Erysipelothrix

Answer 16

Path - 2-6 months old
CS - lame, stiff, pyrexic
Tx - penicillin, vaccination

Question 17

List hereditary/congenital conditions of lambs

Answer 17

VSD
Atresia ani
Entropion
Undershot jaw
Danny Walker malformation
Chondrodysplasia
Arthrogryosis
Cerebella abiotrphy