Difference between revisions of "Ovine Brucellosis"

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== Introduction ==
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{{OpenPagesTop}}
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Also Known As: '''''Ram Epididymitis''''' — '''''Orchitis''''' — '''''Ovine Contagious Epididymitis''''' — '''''Brucella ovis Epididymitis'''''. 
  
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This is a disease in sheep caused by either ''[[Brucella melitensis]]'' or ''[[Brucella ovis]]''. ''B. mellitensis'' also causes disease in goats, but ''B. ovis'' affects only sheep. It is a disease that causes abortion, stillbirths and the birth of weak lambs and is prevalent in Eurpoe, America and Australia.
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Caused By: ''[[Brucella ovis]]'' and ''[[Brucella melitensis]]''
  
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==Introduction==
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Ovine brucellosis causes '''reproductive''' disease in sheep, mainly in '''rams'''.
  
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== Clinical Signs ==
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''B. ovis'' is the least virulent of all the [[Brucella species|''Brucella'' species]].
  
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''B. mellitensis'' is more severe in goats than sheep. Late abortion, still births or births of weak lambs are seen. With ''B. ovis'', clinical signs in ewes are rarely seen and abortions, stillbirths and weak lambs are rare. Signs are seen mainly in rams and include [[Ovine Epididymitis|epididymitis]] and orchitis.
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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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== Diagnosis ==
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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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Diagnosis is by complement fixation, culture of organism or demonstration of the organism in tissue.
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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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== Control ==
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Brucellosis is not considered zoonotic.
  
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Test and slaughter is applied where the disease is exotic.  
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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>
  
 
{{review}}
 
{{review}}
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{{OpenPages}}
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[[Category:CABI Expert Review]][[Category:CABI AHPC Pages]]
 
[[Category:Reproductive Diseases - Sheep]][[Category:Reproductive System - Pathology]]
 
[[Category:Reproductive Diseases - Sheep]][[Category:Reproductive System - Pathology]]
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[[Category:Expert_Review - Farm Animal]]
 

Latest revision as of 14:43, 17 August 2012


Also Known As: Ram Epididymitis — Orchitis — Ovine Contagious Epididymitis — Brucella ovis Epididymitis.

Caused By: Brucella ovis and Brucella melitensis

Introduction

Ovine brucellosis causes reproductive disease in sheep, mainly in rams.

B. ovis is the least virulent of all the Brucella species.

The disease is on List B of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE) It is therefore notifiable to the OIE.

Signalment

The disease is unique to sheep.

Distribution

Present in all countries where sheep are intensively farmed. It is transmitted mainly through semen but shedding is unreliable.

Ewes can also act as indirect vectors for brucellosis if they mate with both an infected and uninfected ram during the same oestrus cycle.

Abortion materials and vaginal discharge also contain Brucella organisms

Brucellosis is not considered zoonotic.

Clinical Signs

Epididymitis in rams with swelling and enlargement of testes, scrotum, penis and prepuce. Decreased reproductive performance will be noticed due to impaired spermatogenesis.

Testicular atrophy occurs in chronic infections.

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.

Diagnosis

Palpation of the testes is suggestive but not definitive.

Specific immunofluorescent staining of semen smears is confirmatory.

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.

ELISA and Complement Fixation are also commonly used for serological diagnosis.

Treatment

Antibiotic therapy is very expensive, prolonged and ineffective.

Control

Testing and culling of breeding stock is essential to ensure carriers are not present within a flock.

Vaccination is available against both Brucella species, but B. ovis vaccines are only widely used in New Zealand. Any vaccination will interfere wih serological diagnosis and this should be considered.


Ovine Brucellosis Learning Resources
FlashcardsFlashcards logo.png
Flashcards
Test your knowledge using flashcard type questions 		Ovine Brucellosis Flashcards
CABICABI logo.jpg
Literature Search
Search for recent publications via CAB Abstract
(CABI log in required) 		Ovine Brucellosis Publications


References


CABIlogo

This article was originally sourced from The Animal Health & Production Compendium (AHPC) published online by CABI during the OVAL Project.

The datasheet was accessed on 6 June 2011.








 This article has been peer reviewed but is awaiting expert review. If you would like to help with this, please see more information about expert reviewing.



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