Sudden Death in Growing Lambs

Question 1

List common causes of sudden death in growing lambs (general)

Answer 1

1) clostridial
2) pastuerellosis
3) acidosis (vs CCN)
4) acute liver fluke
5) others…

Question 2

Name 5 diseases caused by clostridial infection (and causative clostridia)

Answer 2

1) pulpy kidney (Cl. perfringens type D)
2) Braxy (Cl. septicum)
3) Black disease (Cl. novyi type B)
4) Blackleg (Cl. chauvoei)
5) Abomasitis (Cl. sodellii)

Question 3

CS pulpy kidney

Answer 3

enterotoxemia
sudden death
@ 4 weeks - 8 months
(big/best lambs)
If still alive: severe depression, abdominal pain, grinding teeth, neuro signs (seizures, opisthotonus)

Question 4

Pathogenesis of pulpy kidney?

Answer 4

Cl. perfringens type D in gut @ birth - UNDIGESTED CARBOHYDRATES = organism reaches high # = (w/ trypsin present & no Ab), cleaved & creates toxin, gets into blood = increased vascular permeability (leads to hyperglycemia, glycosuria, nervous changes, death)
[more complex, just not enough space]

Question 5

Pulpy kidney diagnosis?

Answer 5

Hx of move to rich feeding
PM
C. perfringens type D in smeras w/ Gram stain, by culture, and toxin gene by PCR,
e-toxin detectable by ELISA

Question 6

Pulpy kidney pathology (PM findings)

Answer 6

carcass good condition
no gross lesions, clear fluid in body cavities
petechial hemorrhages on lungs & epicardium
pulpy kidneys
SI contents = fluid

Question 7

CS of braxy

Answer 7

Rapid, fatal abomasitis
sudden death of young, non-immune sheep eating frosted forage
usually store lambs & ewe lambs

If alive: sudden onset of illness w/ weakness, anorexia, +/- pyrexia

Question 8

Risk factor for braxy

Answer 8

eating frosted kale, grass, or other forages that could damage the abomasal wall

Question 9

pathologenesis of braxy

Answer 9

Infection of wall by cl. sept. –> alpha toxin, local & systemic effects

alpha toxin = pore forming (into cells, lysis, release of cell K+ and hemoglobin)

Question 10

Braxy diagnosis

Answer 10

Hx of frost and no vaccination
PM
Culture, gram stain of mucosal lesion & heart blood
IMHC
Demonstration of toxin in tissue or blood

Question 11

PM findings for braxy

Answer 11

Abomasitis
thickened abomasal / duodenal walls
edematous, necrotic, hemorrhage
excess turbid peritoneal fluid

Question 12

Describe Black’s disease

Answer 12

• caused by Cl. novyi, liver disease - (associated w/ migration of immature fluke)
• late autumn / winter
• sudden death

Question 13

CS of tetanus

Answer 13

common following docking/castration

• stiffness, rigidity of limbs
• can’t swallow or eructate
• convulsions

Question 14

CS of blackleg

Answer 14

sudden death

If alive: dullness, pyrexia, toxic MM, severe lameness w/ edema and emphysema

Question 15

CS of Cl. sordellii

Answer 15

Sudden death + acute abomasitis @ 6-12 months

Question 16

Treatment and prevention of Clostridial disease?

Answer 16

Penicillin (esp blackleg)
Fluke control (black disease)
Vaccination = ewes booster @ 4-6 weeks pre lambing (goes into colostrum, MDA last 10 weeks), lambs vx @ 10 weeks
[have combo vaccinations, multiple strains clostridia + pasteurella]
Prevention = introduce rich food gradually (pulpy kidney), remove affected groups to pasture, housing to prevent access to frosted grass (braxy)

Question 17

Disease caused by Cl. perfringens Type B

Answer 17

Lamb dysentery

Question 18

Cl. perfringens type A causes…

Answer 18

Malignant edema

Question 19

Cl. perfringens type C causes…

Answer 19

Struck

Question 20

Cl. perfringens type D causes…

Answer 20

Pulpy kidney

Question 21

Cl. septicum causes…

Answer 21

Braxy

Question 22

Cl. chauvei causes…

Answer 22

Blackleg

Question 23

Cl. novyi causes…

Answer 23

Black disease

Question 24

Cl. hemolyticum causes…

Answer 24

Bacilliary hemoglobinuria

Question 25

Cl. sordellii causes…

Answer 25

Abomasitis

Question 26

2 causes of pasteurellosis:

Answer 26

M. hemolytica, P. trehalosi

Question 27

At what age do you see sudden death in lambs caused by pasteurellosis from M. hemolytica?

Answer 27

<12 weeks (pre-weaning)

Question 28

At what age do you see sudden death in lambs caused by pasteurellosis from P. trehalosi?

Answer 28

recently weaned (>12-20 weeks)

Question 29

Dx of pasteurellosis?

Answer 29

Hx, CS, PM

Question 30

What do you see @ PM with a pasteurella infected lamb?

Answer 30

edematous and congested lungs
enlarged, hemorrhagic LN
widespread petechiae (serosal surfaces, epicardium, kidneys)
Focal necrotizing hepatitis
Upper alimentary tract erosions
Pleurisy & Pericarditis

Question 31

Tx of pasteurellosis

Answer 31

Oxytet?

Combo clostridia and pastuer. vaccination! (Ovivac & heptavac P plus)

Question 32

What causes acidosis?

Answer 32

Sudden & unaccustomed intake of high quantities of rapidly fermentable carbohydrates (grain overload).

Question 33

which breed is more prone to acidosis?

Answer 33

Scottish blackface

Question 34

CS of acidosis?

Answer 34

sudden death (w/in 24 hours)
anorexia & bruxism (teeth grinding)
distended abdomen & ruminal stasis
diarrhea 
dehydration & toxic MM
Severe metabolic acidosis = tachypnoea, hypernoea

Question 35

Dx of Acidosis?

Answer 35

Hx, CS, PM
Rumen contents - milky grey, foul odor, rumen epithelium sloughing off
rumen pH <5.5

Question 36

Prevention of acidosis?

Answer 36

gradually introduce to grain concentrate (feeding over 3 weeks before ad lib)
feed good quality roughage
close the feed storage

Question 37

Tx for acidosis?

Answer 37

If emergency consider rumenotomy
Na bicarb IV or PO
Encourage forage feeding
Rumen function stimulants