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Presentation of lamb dysentery is usually peracute, with sudden deaths occuring before treatment can be implemented. Even if animals are found prior to death, treatment is usually unrewarding as organs are irreversibly damaged by toxins by the time signs present<sup>lewis</sup>. Instead, a definitive diagnosis should be pursued before great losses occur, and the farmer should be encouraged to submit the carcase for further investigations.
Presentation of lamb dysentery is usually peracute, with sudden deaths occuring before treatment can be implemented. Even if animals are found prior to death, treatment is usually unrewarding as organs are irreversibly damaged by toxins by the time signs present<sup>lewis</sup>. Instead, a definitive diagnosis should be pursued before great losses occur, and the farmer should be encouraged to submit the carcase for further investigations.
As treatment is so ineffective, much emphasis is put on to the control of lamb dysentery. Vaccination in the face of an outbreak has been shown to be effective<sup>west</sup>, and specific hyperimmune serum can also be administered<sup>Merck, watt</sup>. Oral antibiotics may be given<sup>merck</sup> but are regarded as a less appropriate therepautic.
As treatment is so ineffective, much emphasis is put on to the control of lamb dysentery. Vaccination in the face of an outbreak has been shown to be effective<sup>west</sup>, and specific hyperimmune serum can also be administered<sup>Merck, watt</sup>. Oral antibiotics may be given<sup>merck</sup> but are regarded as a less appropriate therepautic. Management measures such as removing the flock from a particular pasture or reducing concentrate feeding may be implemented in other clostridial diseases but are of no benefit in lamb dysentery: over-ingestion of the dam's milk combined with poor hygiene are responsible for this disease. Therefore,
sufficient supervision should be given at lambing time to ensure adequate intakes of colostrium and the maintenance of good hygiene.
Lamb dysentery can be controlled through vaccination against clostridial diseases. Before ewes enter the breeding flock, they should be given two vaccinations separated by an interval of 4-6 weeks. An annual booster should be given about six weeks before lambing to afford passive protection to lambs until around sixteen weeks of age. Lambs born to unvaccinated ewes should themselves be vaccinated at between 3 and 12 weeks old, with a second injection given at least four weeks later. Good husbandry is also critical to the control of lamb dysentery.
Lamb dysentery can be controlled through vaccination against clostridial diseases. Before ewes enter the breeding flock, they should be given two vaccinations separated by an interval of 4-6 weeks. An annual booster should be given about six weeks before lambing to afford passive protection to lambs until around sixteen weeks of age. Lambs born to unvaccinated ewes should themselves be vaccinated at between 3 and 12 weeks old, with a second injection given at least four weeks later. Good husbandry is also critical to the control of lamb dysentery. Lambing is a particularly important period where supervision and hygiene should be maintainted and adequate colostrum intake should be ensured. Care should be taken when introducing animals to an improved plane of nutrition.
Before the advent of modern vaccines,
Before the advent of modern vaccines,
losses from clostridial diseases could
losses from clostridial diseases could