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== Introduction<br> ==
This is a virus of the family pestivirus and occurs in sheep and goats. The disease was first reported on the Welsh Borders, hence the name. It is now prevalent in the UK, Europe and America. The virus can cause a signifiant problem in flocks of sheep by reducing the percentage of lambs that survive dramatically, hence having a large economic impact on farmers.
The virus has a tropism for foetal lymphoid tissue, hair follicles, and the CNS and causes abortion in affected animals or the birth of weak lambs. 'Hairy shaker lambs' are born with hair and not wool and the disease can also be associated with cerebellar hypoplasia. If the sheep or goat is infected in the mid- third of gestation then immunotolerant lambs will be born and no clinical signs will be apparent.
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====Diagnosis====
== Clinical Signs ==
Lambs are born with hair not wool and tremble, stagger and appear very weak. Some of these animals also have skeletal abnormalities. It may also be seen as abortion or stillbirth in a flock of sheep, which may appear brown and 'liquid like', so much so, it may be mistaken for scouring in early pregnancy.
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== Diagnosis<br> ==
Clinical signs and birth of hairy shaker lambs, plus knwoledge of presence of the disease in the area.<br>
[[Category:Pestiviruses]][[Category:Lymphoreticular and Haematopoietic Diseases - Sheep]][[Category:Reproductive Diseases - Sheep]][[Category:Dermatological Diseases - Sheep]][[Category:Sheep Viruses]][[Category:Goat Viruses]][[Category:To_Do_-_Clinical/Viruses]]
Confirmation by serology: '''ELISA''' for virus '''antigen.'''
[[Category:Lymphoreticular and Haematopoietic Diseases - Goat]][[Category:Reproductive Diseases - Goat]][[Category:Dermatological Diseases - Goat]]
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== Control ==
There is no vaccine currently avaliable in the UK, although vaccines are avaliable in the USA and Europe. Blood testing sheep can aid in culling seropositive ewes.
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== References<br> ==
Bridger, J and Russell, P (2007) Virology Study Guide
Radostits, O.M, Arundel, J.H, and Gay, C.C. (2000) Veterinary Medicine: a textbook of the diseases of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and horses Elsevier Health Sciences<br>
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== ==
[[Category:Pestiviruses]] [[Category:Lymphoreticular_and_Haematopoietic_Diseases_-_Sheep]] [[Category:Reproductive_Diseases_-_Sheep]] [[Category:Dermatological_Diseases_-_Sheep]] [[Category:Sheep_Viruses]] [[Category:Goat_Viruses]] [[Category:To_Do_-_Review]] [[Category:Lymphoreticular_and_Haematopoietic_Diseases_-_Goat]] [[Category:Reproductive_Diseases_-_Goat]] [[Category:Dermatological_Diseases_-_Goat]]