Border disease without nervous signs or fleece changes

A natural infection with border disease virus occurred in a flock on low ground in Argyll in the spring of 1984. The outbreak was unusual in that the typical clinical signs of border disease, ie, tremor and, or, fleece changes were not present; manifestations of disease were restricted to abortion and the birth of small weak lambs. The disease was shown to have been introduced to the flock by four healthy ewes persistently infected with border disease virus among a group of 39 purchased in October 1983. Further investigations in late August 1984 detected viraemia in six of seven ill-thriven lambs and four of 24 apparently healthy lambs. Attempted 'natural vaccination' of susceptible sheep by mixing them at grass for three months with groups of ewes and lambs known to contain virus excretors was largely unsuccessful as only four of 22 'sentinel' sheep seroconverted. In October 1984 the persistently infected purchased animals and all that year's lamb crop were removed from the farm. No disease occurred in 1985 when the lambing percentage was 129 per cent compared with 100 per cent in 1984. Two of the four persistently infected purchased ewes were mated at Moredun Research Institute in December 1984 and both produced healthy but persistently infected lambs.     

Horizontal transmission of Aujeszky's disease virus from sheep to pigs

Eight 2-month-old merino lambs were inoculated intranasally with different (10(2.0)-10(5.0)TCID50) amounts of Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV). Electron microscopic studies indicated that ADV replicated in extra-neural sites, in the epithelial cells of the mucosa of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Although the virus was excreted continuously in nasal discharges, horizontal transmission to contact lambs failed. The surviving exposed and contact lambs had no demonstrable antibodies against ADV and they were susceptible when challenged by ADV. However, the virus was transmitted to susceptible pigs in contact with the exposed lambs. One of the five contact pigs showed characteristic clinical signs of Aujeszky's disease, developed a nonsuppurative meningoencephalomyelitis and ADV was recovered from the brain, nasal discharge and other organs. Restriction enzyme analysis of DNA from this virus confirmed the sheep origin of the isolate. The other 4 pigs seroconverted. ADV infection in sheep is therefore a possible source of infection for pigs, but the lack of horizontal transmission in sheep was confirmed.     

The production and survival of lambs persistently infected with border disease virus.

From 1985 to 1989 lambs persistently infected with border disease virus (BDV) were produced for comparative immunological studies by infecting 57 susceptible pregnant ewes between 50 and 60 days' gestation with Moredun or Oban strains of BDV. Ewes were infected either by injection with virus grown in cell culture or by housing with lambs excreting BDV. There was no significant difference in the outcomes of these different methods of infection. There was a significant difference in the number of viable lambs born to ewes receiving the two viruses. Of 41 ewes infected with Moredun virus 21 produced 32 live lambs of which 17 were reared to 1 month old (53% viability). Of 16 ewes receiving Oban virus 10 gave birth to 17 live lambs of which 15 were reared to 1 month old (88% viability). All the lambs born to ewes infected with Moredun BDV had varying signs of tremor and increased hairiness ("hairy-shakers") while those born to ewes infected with the Oban virus had no obvious clinical signs. Survival of the lambs was poor. Up until February 1991, 14 Moredun and 10 Oban sheep between the ages of 4 months and 5.5 yr had died from a variety of causes. The two commonest causes were a chronic wasting syndrome and a mucosal disease-like syndrome which was associated with the recovery of cytopathic BDV. Mating of unrelated persistently infected sheep was largely unproductive although 2 lambs were reared.     

Border disease in sheep caused by transmission of virus from cattle persistently infected with bovine virus diarrhoea virus.

Two outbreaks of border disease occurred on farms with sheep flocks and breeding cattle. The infection of the pregnant sheep was probably caused by transmission of virus from calves persistently infected with non-cytopathic bovine virus diarrhoea virus (BVDV) which were kept in close confinement with the ewes during mid-pregnancy. Border disease was also induced experimentally in eight lambs by exposing their dams at 38 to 78 days of gestation to a heifer persistently infected with BVDV. Both the natural and the experimental infections were characterised by typical signs such as 'hairy-shaker' lambs and high lamb mortality. The diagnosis was confirmed by virus isolations from live-born lambs, seroconversion and pathology. The study supports the assertion that cattle persistently infected with BVDV and in close contact with pregnant sheep, are an important source of strains of virus capable of causing border disease.     

A MUCOSAL DISEASE VIRUS AS A CAUSE OF ABORTION, HAIRY BIRTH COAT AND UNTHRIFTINESS IN SHEEP

A condition in Australian sheep resembling border disease was transmitted by the inoculation of pregnant ewes with material from affected lambs. This material contained mucosal disease virus (MDV). Twenty-two lambs comprising 6 from uninoculated control ewes, together with 11 with hairy coats and 5 with normal coats from inoculated ewes, were observed from 7 to 182 days after birth. Nine of the lambs from inoculated ewes died during the experiment from a variety of causes. Glial cell abnormalities were observed in control and affected lambs, but only 4 of the 11 hairy lambs were judged to have abnormal glial cells. There were no consistent histopathological findings indicative of MDV infection. MDV was recovered from tissues of all 11 hairy lambs, but not from any of the lambs with normal coats. The hairy lambs appeared to be immunologically tolerant to the virus. Susceptible sheep in contact with the hairy lambs were infected with MDV. It is suggested that a condition in Australian lambs characterised by hairiness of the birth coat and poor viability is due to foetal infection with a mucosal disease virus.     

Protection from parainfluenza-3 virus and persistence of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus in sheep vaccinated with a modified live IBR-PI-3 vaccine.

Ewes (N = 7) and their lambs (N = 12) were vaccinated with a commercial modified live infectious bovine rhinotracheitis-parainfluenza type 3 virus vaccine. Both the vaccinated ewes and lambs and a group of unvaccinated ewes (N = 8) and their lambs (N = 13) were subsequently challenged with virulent parainfluenza type 3 virus. Although absolute immunity to infection and clinical response was not conferred, the clinical response was less severe in vaccinated lambs. Vaccinated animals also shed parainfluenza type 3 virus in nasal secretions for a shorter time than nonvaccinated animals. Some vaccinated lambs developed a persistent infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus infection that was recrudesced by treatment with dexamethasone. It was concluded that vaccination was of benefit in reducing the severity of infection with parainfluenza type 3 virus. However, the inclusion of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus in a vaccine for sheep respiratory tract disease is highly questionable as it might increase the risk factor associated with vaccination. The consequences of the persistence of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus are now known.     

Clinical variations of border disease in sheep according to the source of the inoculum

Non-cytopathogenic pestivirus obtained from lambs with border disease, with or without nervous signs, was inoculated into pregnant ewes at 57 to 65 days of gestation. Live lambs born to inoculated ewes were clinically identical to the lambs from which virus was obtained, ie, either a hairy birth coat with central nervous system disturbance or a hairy birth coat without central nervous system disturbance.     

The epidemiology of Dictyocaulus filaria in north east England.

The seasonal pattern of Dictyocaulus filaria infection in four flocks of sheep under field conditions was studied by faecal examination for larvae. The prevalence of infection in lambs was low in spring and summer but increased in late autumn or winter, then fell again to a low level by May. However, most lambs became infected at some time during their first year of life. In ewes the prevalence of infection was generally low, but rose during winter and spring. Seasonal pattern and intensity of infection were influenced by weather conditions and the persistence of infection from the previous year, moist summer conditions giving rise to a higher level of infection in autumn and winter than a dry summer. The source of infection may be the ewes or yearlings, or infective larvae surviving over the winter on pasture. Autoinfection occurred, some lambs becoming infected with at least three generations of the parasite, but at the levels of infection recorded clinical disease was rare.     

TRANSMISSION OF A MUCOSAL DISEASE VIRUS INFECTION BETWEEN SHEEP

The transmission of mucosal disease virus (MDV) from infected ewes and their lambs to susceptible sheep was investigated. MDV was recovered from the amniotic fluid of an infected pregnant ewe and from the blood, nasal swabs and urine of hairy lambs. MDV infection was transmitted either at lambing, from infective foetal fluids or lambs, or later as a result of contact with a surviving with a hairy lamb and either aborted or gave birth to an infected hairy lamb. Adult sheep and 12-months-old sheep were less readily infected than were newborn lambs. Pregnant ewes were infected by contact with a hairy lamb and either aborted or gave birth to an infected hairy lamb. A method to minimise spread of the infection in the field is suggested.     

Prevalence and effect of subclinical ovine progressive pneumonia virus infection on ewe wool and lamb production

The prevalence of infection with ovine progressive pneumonia (OPP) virus and its effects on ewe wool and lamb production were investigated in a flock of 2,976 ewes of 6 breed types (Rambouillet, Targhee, Columbia, Polypay, 1/4 cross Finnsheep, and 1/2 cross Finnsheep). Prevalence of seropositivity was significantly (P less than or equal to 0.01) lower among Rambouillet and Targhee breeds (44 and 42%, respectively), intermediate in Polypay, Columbia, and 1/4 cross Finnsheep (approximately 53%), and higher among 1/2 cross Finnsheep (62%). Seropositivity increased with age in all breed types from 11% at 1 year of age to 93% at greater than or equal to 7 years of age. Lateral disease transmission is indicated by linear increase of seropositivity prevalence with increasing age, including that in sheep greater than 6 years old. Subclinical infection with OPP virus had no apparent detrimental effect on number of lambs born, lamb viability, birth weight, number of lambs weaned, or growth rate of single and twin lambs, compared with findings for noninfected sheep in the same flock. Mature ewe body weight and grease fleece weight did not differ between subclinically infected seropositive and seronegative ewes. Subclinical infection with OPP virus does not appear to have an adverse economic effect on ewe wool and lamb production. Culling rate attributable to clinical manifestation of infection with OPP virus must be accurately determined before the true effects of virus infection on production can be determined and an eradication program can be recommended.     

Intrauterine transmission of ovine progressive pneumonia virus

Ovine fetuses, newborn lambs, and ovine colostrum were examined for ovine progressive pneumonia virus. The lambs and colostrum were also examined for specific antibody. Virus was isolated from 1 fetus, from 2 newborn lambs, and from most samples of colostrum. The fetus was about 100 days old and was carried by a seronegative ewe in contact with seropositive sheep. Both newborn lambs were carried by seropositive ewes. One lamb was dead at birth; the other lamb was normal and had not nursed. Antibody specific for the virus was present in the colostrum of 12 of 14 seropositive ewes and in the serum of 8 of 11 lambs that had nursed seropositive ewes, but not in the serum of lambs that had not nursed.     

Some aspects of tick-borne diseases of British sheep

The significance of tick-borne fever (TBF) and other tick-borne diseases of British sheep are reviewed. Experimental and field studies were carried out to clarify the role of TBF as a pathogen per se and as a predisposing factor in other diseases. Experimental TBF infection caused anorexia and depression in two- to three-week-old lambs, which under the stress of a hill environment could alone be a cause of mortality. Nine out of 10 lambs experimentally inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus during the febrile phase of a TBF reaction developed pyaemic lesions compared with four out of 20 lambs inoculated with S aureus alone. Specific pathogen-free lambs inoculated with an aerosol of Pasteurella haemolytica serotype A1 during a TBF reaction showed more severe clinical signs and had more extensive pathological changes at necropsy than control lambs given P haemolytica alone. Dual infection with TBF and louping-ill virus showed that not only were dually infected sheep more susceptible to louping-ill but almost all of them succumbed to a haemorrhagic syndrome involving a systemic mycotic infection with Rhizomucor pucillus. None of eight sheep given louping-ill virus alone developed this syndrome. Field studies indicated that morbidity and mortality in lambs in south-west Scotland could be markedly reduced by dipping and long acting antibiotic prophylaxis. Lamb groups in which both of these were carried out incurred losses of only 0.6 per cent compared with 10.3 per cent in control groups. In addition antibiotic-treated lamb groups demonstrated significantly better weight gains than untreated groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Properties of a respiratory syncytial virus isolated from a sheep with rhinitis

A virus isolated from a yearling cross-bred ewe was identified as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) by indirect immunofluorescence and by virus neutralization with bovine RSV antisera. The virus caused a mild conjunctivitis in 3-month-old lambs when inoculated alone. Although clinical signs of pneumonia were not observed, there was gross and microscopic evidence of pulmonary inflammation in the lungs of lambs inoculated with either the sheep RSV isolate alone or in conjunction with Pasteurella haemolytica. Lung lesions in the dual infection were more severe, with approximately 10% of the total lung mass affected. Lavage fluids from lambs inoculated with virus and bacteria contained approximately 3 times more inflammatory cells than from control lambs or lambs inoculated with virus only. The sheep RSV isolate was classified as a mild respiratory pathogen in lambs of this age. Speculations on the potential importance of this virus in interspecies transmission to cattle and goats were discussed.     

Border disease: virus persistence, antibody response and transmission studies

Three groups of five and one group of four oestrus-synchronised sheep were inoculated with Border disease (BD) virus at 52 +/- 2 days after their first service. Transmission of virus to offspring as demonstrated by virus isolation, detection of viral antigen and, or antibody response occurred in 12 of 19 sheep and probably in four others which aborted or produced stillborn lambs. Both apparently normal and clinically affected animals excreted virus in saliva, urine and faeces, and excretion and contact transmission to sheep and pigs persisted for up to two and a half years. Most of the tissues of infected sheep contained virus titres between 10(3.5) and 10(5.5) TCID50 per g. The immune response in the lambs varied, in some it began before birth, in others a transient or low level response was observed in the first or second year, while others remained serologically negative for two and a half years.     

Clinical and pathological studies in adult sheep and goats experimentally infected with Wesselsbron disease virus

The clinical symptoms and pathology in 33 adult sheep and 31 adult goats experimentally infected with Wesselsbron disease virus are described. There was moderate to severe hyperthermia in most animals, but no other clinical signs of disease or deaths were recorded. Eleven sheep and 6 goats were sacrificed for pathological studies at various stages during the febrile response. The macroscopic and microscopic lesions in these cases are described. Microscopic studies revealed that the liver was consistently affected and showed small foci of necrosis. These were sparsely distributed and associated with a marked localized Kupffer cell response ("retothelial nodules"). In addition, acidophilic bodies and small groups of necrotic hepatocytes were evident in some lobules. Apart from the hepatic lesions, mild to moderate pyknosis and karyorrhexis of lymphocytes were seen in the spleen and lymph nodes. This report also compares the microscopic lesions in the livers of adult sheep and goats with those of new-born lambs for Wesselsbron disease as well as with those reported for Rift Valley fever in adult sheep.     

Experimental infection of sheep with bovine herpesvirus type-5 (BHV-5): acute and latent infection

We demonstrated that sheep are susceptible to acute and latent infection by bovine herpesvirus type-5 (BHV-5). Lambs inoculated intranasally with two South American BHV-5 isolates replicated the virus with titers up to 10(7.1) TCID50/ml for up to 15 days and showed mild signs of rhinitis. Four lambs in contact with the inoculated animals acquired the infection and excreted virus for up to seven days. One lamb developed progressive signs of neurological disease and was euthanized in extremis. Clinical signs consisted of tremors of the face, bruxism, ptyalism, incoordination, lateral flexion of the neck and head, circling, walking backwards, recumbency and paddling. The virus was detected in the anterior and posterior cerebrum, dorso- and ventro-lateral cortex, cerebellum, pons, midbrain and olfactory bulb. Viral nucleic acids were demonstrated in neurons and astrocytes of the anterior and ventro-lateral cortex by in situ hybridization. Histological changes consisting of non-suppurative meningitis, perivascular mononuclear cuffing, focal gliosis, neuronal necrosis and intranuclear inclusions were observed in the anterior cerebrum, ventro-lateral cortex and midbrain. Dexamethasone treatment at Day 50 pi resulted in reactivation of the latent infection and virus shedding in 13/16 (81%) of the lambs. Together with previous reports of BHV-5 antibodies in sheep, these findings show that sheep are fully susceptible to BHV-5 suggesting that infection by BHV-5 in sheep may occur naturally.     

Linear hoof defects in sheep infected with foot-and-mouth disease

During the epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in The Netherlands in 2001, a sheep farm was identified that had been subclinically infected with the disease. The FMD virus genome was detected in 12 of 16 probang samples collected from the sheep and the virus was isolated from four of these samples. Linear defects were observed, 1 to 3 cm from the coronary band, in the hooves of several of the sheep. The defects were thought to have been caused by the FMD infection. It was thought that the distance of the defects from the coronary band might be an indication of the time since the animals had been infected. To determine the growth rate of the claws of sheep, the growth of the hoof horn of uninfected lambs and ewes was measured; in the lambs the growth rate was 0.44 mm per day and in the ewes it was 0.29 mm per day.     

A disease resembling louping-ill in sheep in the Basque region of Spain

A clinical syndrome resembling louping-ill which primarily affects lambs and yearlings in the Basque region of Spain is described. The disease has been observed for several years during May and June after the sheep flocks have been taken to the mountain grazings where the sheep tick (Ixodes ricinus) is known to occur. Examination of the brain from one of the affected animals revealed histological changes indistinguishable from those caused by louping-ill virus. In addition antibody that reacted with louping-ill virus antigen was detected in the serum of 57 per cent of the sheep tested from the affected flocks but in only 0.8 per cent of sera from flocks free of the disease. These preliminary results suggest that louping-ill or a related tick-borne virus is responsible for ovine encephalomyelitis in Spain.     

Detection of wild-type Aujeszky's disease virus by polymerase chain reaction in sheep vaccinated with a modified live vaccine strain

An outbreak of Aujeszky's disease occurred in a flock of sheep which had been housed together with pigs. After the death of five sheep with clinical signs of Aujeszky's disease, the remaining sheep were vaccinated with the Bartha vaccine strain, and the pigs were vaccinated with the 783 vaccine strain of Aujeszky's disease virus. Despite vaccination, however, more sheep died. Brain tissues from four sheep were collected for virus isolation and for immunobistological examinations. Only vaccine virus (gE-negative) was detected in the tissue. After DNA restriction enzyme analysis of the isolated virus, DNA of one or both of the vaccine strains was detected in all sheep. In one sheep field virus DNA was also detected. However, when the polymerase chain reaction was performed on samples prepared from paraffin-embedded tissues, DNA of field virus (gE-positive) was detected in all four sheep. It was probable that the sheep had not yet mounted a sufficient immune response to the vaccine virus, or were already infected with field virus at the time of vaccination. We concluded that the sheep died from field virus infection and not from vaccine virus infection and that only the polymerase chain reaction made it possible to specifically detect even very small amounts of field virus DNA among vaccine virus DNA in all investigated sheep.