Observations on the alimentary tract of gnotobiotic lambs.

Seventeen gnotobiotic lambs were reared up to 21 weeks of age on cows' milk followed by sterile solid diets similar to diets fed to conventional lambs. Seven were inoculated with limited defined populations of rumen bacteria, seven were left uninoculated and three were dosed with rumen contents from conventional sheep ('conventionalised'). Seven naturally-born lambs were reared for purposes of comparison. As with other species of gnotobiotic animals, both the inoculated and the uninoculated gnotobiotic lambs had small, poorly developed lymph nodes, soft colon contents and thin intestinal walls. Unlike other species the caeca of gnotobiotic lambs were of normal size. The overall size of the reticulo-rumen including contents relative to body weight was similar in gnotobiotic and conventional lambs. However, macroscopically, the musculature of the rumen seemed to be poorly developed and histological studies showed hypoplasia of the muscle tissue of both the rumen and reticulum. Rumination was noted only infrequently in gnotobiotic lambs. The epithelium of the rumen and reticulum of the uninoculated gnotobiotic lambs was similar to that of neonatal lambs, but there was normal development of papillae in gnotobiotic lambs inoculated with limited defined populations of rumen bacteria and in conventionalised lambs. Degenerative changes were observed histologically in some of the organs of gnotobiotic lambs which were consistent with nutritional deficiencies.     

Enteric campylobacter infection in gnotobiotic calves and lambs

Gnotobiotic calves and lambs were infected orally with Campylobacter jejuni, C coli or C hyointestinalis to assess pathogenicity. All animals were successfully colonised and excreted mucoid faeces but showed no other clinical signs. Campylobacters colonised the large intestine better than the small intestine, in which bacterial numbers decreased with time after infection. Campylobacters were found occasionally in the lumen of crypts in close proximity to epithelial cells and included in a mucus-like material. Lesions were mostly in the large intestine in calves whereas in lambs they were present in the ileum. In animals inoculated with C jejuni or C coli scattered crypt abscesses, focal inflammatory infiltrates in the lamina propria and goblet cell discharge were found. In lambs inoculated with C hyointestinalis only minor changes were found in the small intestine. Serum antibody response was either absent or present at a low level only from the 19th day after infection.     

Lactation curves of commercial ewes rearing lambs

Three-hour milk production measurements determined by machine milking at 3-d intervals throughout a 63-d lactation period were used to describe lactation curves for crossbred ewes lambing at 1 and 2 yr of age and rearing single and twin lambs. Age of ewe, type of rearing, and day of lactation affected (P < 0.05) milk production. Over the 63-d lactation, average daily milk production was 2.56 and 2.63 kg, respectively, for 1- and 2-yr-old ewes rearing single lambs and 2.73 and 3.47 kg, respectively, for 1- and 2-yr-old ewes rearing twins. Milk production of 2-yr-old ewes rearing twin lambs peaked at 21 d of lactation, and that of 1- and 2-yr-old ewes rearing singles peaked between 27 and 30 d of lactation. The largest differences in the lactation curves among age and rearing ewe classes were found in early lactation. These differences were reduced by midlactation, and by late lactation, milk production for all ewes was similar. Diurnal variation in milk production by ewes was evaluated in an 8 x 8 Latin square design. Diurnal variation in milk yield measurements of eight mature ewes, each bearing and rearing twin lambs, was similar between d 21 and 24 of lactation. Time of milk production measurements within a day did not affect yield determinations. Extrapolation from 3-h production estimates to daily milk production is valid in determining a ewe's milk contribution in support of lamb growth.     

Observations on watery mouth in newborn lambs

Clinical data were collected from 102 cases of watery mouth in newborn lambs, and blood samples were taken from 23 of the lambs for the estimation of glucose and gamma globulin. Most cases (80%) occurred in the first 72 h of life and castration of ram lambs with rubber rings at 12 to 24 h of age appeared to be one predisposing factor. Swelling of the abdomen, probably due to an accumulation of gas in the gut, was commonly observed. There was no relation between susceptibility to watery mouth and the plasma levels of either glucose or immunoglobulin G but low plasma glucose levels were found in the lambs which died. These results suggest 1) that the incidence of watery mouth might be reduced by delaying castration, 2) that watery mouth is associated with impaired gut motility and 3) that the prevention of starvation would help to reduce mortality to a minimum.     

Effect of oral rotavirus/iscom vaccines on immune responses in gnotobiotic lambs.

A comparison of the effect on the immune responses in gnotobiotic lambs was made between an iscom vaccine prepared from recombinant rotavirus VP6 protein, an inactivated rotavirus/iscom-matrix vaccine and a vaccine comprising inactivated rotavirus alone. All three vaccines induced immunological priming and some degree of protection was observed after a single oral dose. However, different immune responses were induced in response to a virulent infection. The group vaccinated with the rotavirus/iscom-matrix vaccine showed a Th2-like response characterised by rotavirus-specific antibodies and a down-regulation of IFNgamma in jejunal Peyer's patches. Both Th1-like and Th2-like immune responses were induced in the group receiving the VP6 vaccine as seen by significantly increased expressions of IFNgamma and IL-6 in the jejunal Peyer's patch together with an increased percentage of CD8+ T cells in the intestine and rotavirus-specific antibodies at mucosal surfaces. Iscom vaccines given orally have the ability to induce both Th1-like and Th2-like immune responses in a ruminant model.     

Comparative pathogenicity of selected bovine viral diarrhea virus isolates in gnotobiotic lambs

The infectivity and pathogenicity of selected bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) isolates were determined in gnotobiotic, colostrum-deprived neonatal lambs. Five-day-old cesarean-derived gnotobiotic lambs were exposed to 1 of 10 BVDV isolates via aerosol suspension. These isolates were from tissues or secretions of calves or lambs affected with respiratory tract disease, weak neonatal calves, aborted bovine fetuses, or reference Singer or Draper BVDV. The pathogenicity of each isolate, relative to the others, was evaluated in lambs by measurement of the neutralizing antibody response, virus isolation from nasal secretions or tissues, and postmortem lesions. The BVDV isolates varied in their infectivity and pathogenicity. Singer, the cytopathic reference strain, was the most lymphotrophic isolate and stimulated the greatest neutralizing antibody response. Encephalitis was the most consistent lesion observed and was used as the final determinant of relative pathogenicity of the viruses. The most neuropathogenic isolates were the 2 viruses originating from lambs affected with respiratory tract disease, the 2 weak neonatal calf isolates, and 1 isolate from an aborted bovine fetus. The least pathogenic isolates were the 2 reference isolates, Draper and Singer; the 2 mucosal disease isolates; and 1 isolate originating from an aborted bovine fetus.     

Observations of subcutaneous haemorrhagic speckling in lambs

A survey carried out at a meat export works in the southern part of the North Island indicated that 29% of lambs killed during the early part of the 1978/79 season had lesions de- scribed as subcutaneous haemorrhagic speckling. In 2.6% of lambs, the lesions were sufficiently severe to warrant downgrading.

Investigation indicated that the primary factor associated with “speckling” in subcutaneous fat was related to electrical stunning by a triple electrode stunner. The lesions were more noticeable in lambs with a thinner layer of carcass fat (Y-grade lambs); other factors such as age, dampness of fleece and stunning technique may also have been associated with their prevalence. It is suggested that, by suitably designed studies, some of these variables could be controlled and their effect assessed.     

Eradication of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma by motherless rearing of lambs

The principles of maedi-visna eradication programmes were applied to a field trial for the eradication of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA). In two maternal flocks the prevalence of gross and histological lesions in slaughtered animals was 18.3 per cent and 29.8 per cent, respectively. The lambing period was supervised for three consecutive years from 1999 to 2001, during which the lambs were taken away from their mothers at birth, deprived of maternal colostrum, and hand-reared away from other sheep. Over the three-year period, 322 hand-reared animals, mainly male lambs between 10 and 14 months old, were slaughtered; their lungs were examined grossly, 52.5 per cent of them were examined histologically, and 105 samples of caudal mediastinal lymph nodes were examined by PCR. No OPA tumours were detected in the slaughter specimens from the derived flock, but one lamb had histological lesions in one lung location; intrauterine transmission was ruled out in this case. No clinical OPA has subsequently been observed in the hand-reared flock. Bronchoalveolar lavage samples from the breeding stock were examined by PCR in order to rule out further subclinical cases of OPA. No Jaagsiekte retrovirus was detected in any of the 488 samples.     

Biochemical and haematological evidence of endotoxic shock in gnotobiotic lambs with watery mouth disease

Eight gnotobiotic lambs deprived of colostrum were infected by mouth when two hours old with nonenterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli. All developed clinical signs of watery mouth disease and seven died within 24 hours. The mean concentrations of several blood constituents were determined in samples taken at intervals until 24 hours after infection in infected lambs and in four control lambs. The biochemical and haematological changes observed in the lambs developing watery mouth disease were those characteristic of endotoxic shock.     

Maedi-visna control in sheep. I. Artificial rearing of colostrum-deprived lambs

A field trial to study the practicability and efficacy of maedi-visna control in sheep by artificial rearing of lambs was carried out during the lambing season of 1979. Lambs were immediately separated from the dams at birth, deprived of ovine colostrum, and reared isolated from the parent flock. Bovine colostrum was given instead of maternal colostrum. Eleven farms participated in the experiment. All flocks were severely infected with maedi-visna virus: 63-100% of the ewes were seropositive as demonstrated by ELISA. Artificially reared lambs were serologically tested and positives culled at the age of 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months. Only very few positives were found: 1/389, 1/376, 0/337, 1/223, 1/192 and 0/144, respectively. The first two sero-positive lambs occurred in one flock, and it could be ascertained that both had mistakenly been given ovine colostrum probably containing maedi-visna virus. No explanation, other than sub-optimal hygiene and isolation, could be found for the two sero-positive sheep that turned up in another flock at 24 and 30 months of age although, transplacental infection cannot be entirely excluded. It is concluded that artificial rearing of ovine colostrum-deprived lambs is an effective and practicable method for the control of maedi-visna in sheep. The method appears particularly useful when valuable genetic material has to be salvaged.     

Observations on three outbreaks of Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona infection in lambs

Sickness and deaths associated with leptospirosis were reported in three lamb flocks in the Manawatu region. The clinical, pathological and serological features of Leptospiru interrogans serovar pomona infection are described. The mucous membranes of affected animals were pale and jaundiced. Haemoglobinuria, haemoglobinaemia and centrilobular hepatocellular necrosis were also consistent findings. All clinically sick lambs had very high titres in the microscopic agglutination test for L. pomona. Circumstantial evidence of pigs being the source of infection was found in one of the three cases.     

Effects of rearing system on meat quality,fatty acid and amino acid profiles of Hu lambs

To determine the effects of early rearing system on meat quality traits, fatty acid and amino acid profiles of meat, 48 Hu lambs were selected and randomly divided into four treatments: control lambs were ewe‐reared from birth to 60 days of age (ER), while treatment lambs were segregated from their dams at 10, 20 and 30 days of age, then artificially reared with milk replacer until 60 days of age (EW10, EW20 and EW30, respectively). All lambs had no access to the milk replacer or their dams from 61 to 90 days. Creep feed was supplied ad libitum to all lambs from 15 to 90 days of age. Artificially reared lambs (EW10, EW20 and EW30) had higher (p < .05) creep feed intake, average daily gain, slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, meat ether extract content, bright meat color (lightness and yellowness) than ewe‐reared lambs. The content of unsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids in EW10 and EW20 were greater (p < .05) than that in ER, whereas the proportions of saturated fatty acids in EW10 and EW20 were lower than that in ER (p < .05). The percentages of C18:0, C18:2, C18:3 and the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids and saturated fatty acids of artificially reared lambs were greater than ewe‐reared lambs (p < .05). The meat proportions of leucine, alanine and proline were higher (p < .05) in artificially reared lambs than ewe‐reared ones. Finally, the artificially reared system increased meat production and changed the fatty acid and amino acid profiles of meat, and it would be appropriate to rear Hu lambs artificially from 10 days with milk replacer.