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Also Known As: '''''Ram Epididymitis''''' — '''''Orchitis''''' — '''''Ovine Contagious Epididymitis''''' — '''''Brucella ovis Epididymitis'''''. 
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*Caprine and ovine brucellosis:
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Caused By: ''[[Brucella ovis]]'' and ''[[Brucella melitensis]]''
**Caused by [[Brucella melitensis|''B. melitensis'']]
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**Goats more susceptible
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==Introduction==
**Abortion, orchitis in males, arthritis, hygromas
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Ovine brucellosis causes '''reproductive''' disease in sheep, mainly in '''rams'''.
**May not have protective immunity following abortion
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**Rose Bengal agglutination test and complement fixation test
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''B. ovis'' is the least virulent of all the [[Brucella species|''Brucella'' species]].
**Test and slaughter where exotic[[Category:To_Do_-_Clinical]]
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The disease is on List B of the ''Office International des Epizooties'' [http://www.oie.int/ (OIE)]
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It is therefore '''notifiable''' to the OIE.
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==Signalment==
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The disease is unique to sheep.
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==Distribution==
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Present in all countries where sheep are intensively farmed. It is transmitted mainly through '''semen''' but shedding is unreliable.
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Ewes can also act as indirect vectors for brucellosis if they mate with both an infected and uninfected ram during the same oestrus cycle.
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Abortion materials and vaginal discharge also contain [[Brucella species |''Brucella'']] organisms
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Brucellosis is not considered zoonotic.
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==Clinical Signs==
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'''Epididymitis''' in rams with '''swelling''' and enlargement of [[Testes and Epididymis - Anatomy & Physiology |'''testes''']], scrotum, [[Penis - Anatomy & Physiology |'''penis''']] and prepuce. Decreased reproductive performance will be noticed due to '''impaired [[Spermatogenesis and Spermiation - Anatomy & Physiology |spermatogenesis]]'''.
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Testicular '''atrophy''' occurs in chronic infections.
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Occasionally also '''abortion''' in ewes and weak lambs. This only occurs due to placental necrosis in ewes exposed in the first two trimesters of pregnancy.
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==Diagnosis==
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Palpation of the testes is suggestive but not definitive.
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Specific '''immunofluorescent''' staining of semen smears is confirmatory.
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''Brucella'' organisms can also be '''isolated''' from the epididymis and accessory sex glands at necropsy, although excretion is intermittent so false negatives are not uncommon.
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[[ELISA testing |'''ELISA''']] and '''Complement Fixation''' are also commonly used for serological diagnosis.
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==Treatment==
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'''Antibiotic''' therapy is very expensive, prolonged and ineffective.
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==Control==
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'''Testing and culling''' of breeding stock is essential to ensure carriers are not present within a flock.
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Vaccination is available against both ''Brucella'' species, but ''B. ovis'' vaccines are only widely used in New Zealand.
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Any vaccination will interfere wih serological diagnosis and this should be considered.
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{{Learning
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|literature search = [http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?q=title%3A+%28Ovine+Brucellosis%29/ Ovine Brucellosis Publications]
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|flashcards = [[Ovine Brucellosis Flashcards]]
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}}
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==References==
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<references/>
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{{CABI source
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|datasheet = [http://www.cabi.org/ahpc/?compid=3&dsid=90731&loadmodule=datasheet&page=2144&site=160 brucellosis (''Brucella ovis'')]
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|date =6 June 2011
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}}
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<br><br><br>
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{{review}}
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{{OpenPages}}
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[[Category:CABI Expert Review]][[Category:CABI AHPC Pages]]
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[[Category:Reproductive Diseases - Sheep]][[Category:Reproductive System - Pathology]]
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