PERINATAL LAMB MORTALITY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA 4. Neonatal Infections

Infection was found in 14.5% of dead lambs classified as delayed or late post-parturient deaths or in 7.5% of the 4,417 lambs autopsied. Eighteen species of bacteria were isolated from these acquired neonatal infections. Many infections resulted from umbilical contamination at birth, some by ingestion, some were superimposed complications upon an already existing condition such as starvation, others occurred as post-marking sequellae. Neonatal infections were divided into hebdomadal (first week) and post-hebdomadal (7 to 28 days). The microorganisms isolated from hebdomadal deaths were Cl. septicum, C. pyogenes, Staph, aureus, Past. haemolytica, Past, multocida , and E. coli , from post-hebdomadal deaths Staph, aureus, F. necrophorum, C. pyogenes, Corynebacterium spp, E. coli, Cl. septicum, Cl. perfringens, Past, haemolytica. Streptococcus spp, pleomorphic gram-negative rod, A. lignieresii, Dermatophilus congolensis and miscellaneous species. It was estimated that acquired neonatal infections were responsible for one-thirteenth of the perinatal lamb deaths in the agricultural area of Western Australia or for approximately 1% of births.