Epidemiological observations in a Corriedale flock affected by Brucella ovis

Brucellosis in sheep, caused by Brucella ovis, is primarily a chronic infectious disease of rams with epididymitis as its most characteristic lesion. Six hundred rams from an infected farm were clinically and serologically examined once a year, over a 3-year period. An increase from 2.1% to 6.3% in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinary research communications 1998-11, Vol.22 (7), p.435-443
Main Authors: Robles, C.A. (National Inst. for Agricultural Technology, Bariloche (Argentina).), Uzal, F.A, Olaechea, F.V, Low, C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Factors
Animals
Argentina - epidemiology
BELIER
BRUCELLA OVIS
Brucellosis - epidemiology
Brucellosis - pathology
Brucellosis - veterinary
CONTROL DE ENFERMEDADES
CONTROLE DE MALADIES
DISEASE CONTROL
EPIDEMIOLOGIA
EPIDEMIOLOGIE
EPIDEMIOLOGY
EPIDIDIMITIS
EPIDIDYMITE
EPIDIDYMITIS
Epididymitis - epidemiology
Epididymitis - pathology
Epididymitis - veterinary
LESION
LESIONES
LESIONS
Lymph Nodes - pathology
Male
MORUECO
OVIN
OVINOS
Prevalence
RAMS
SHEEP
Sheep Diseases - epidemiology
Sheep Diseases - parasitology
Sheep Diseases - pathology
Time Factors
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Summary:Brucellosis in sheep, caused by Brucella ovis, is primarily a chronic infectious disease of rams with epididymitis as its most characteristic lesion. Six hundred rams from an infected farm were clinically and serologically examined once a year, over a 3-year period. An increase from 2.1% to 6.3% in the prevalence of animals serologically positive to B. ovis occurred over the 3 years. However, the prevalence of rams with lesions in the reproductive tract declined from 14.2% to 6.5% in the third year following one year of strict culling of clinically affected and rams that were serologically positive for B. ovis. Clinical lesions found in the 179 affected rams fell into two main categories: rams with epididymitis and rams with affected lymph nodes. These results suggest that the prevalence of the disease relates mainly to the sexual activity of the animal and not to age in itself. A single cull based on the results of clinical examination and serological test results was unable to decrease the prevalence of B. ovis in an extensive Corriedale sheep flock.
ISSN:0165-7380
1573-7446
DOI:10.1023/A:1006158514414