RVF is an acute viral disease of sheep, cattle, goats and humans. It is manifested with hepatitis and high mortality in young lambs and calves, and abortion in adult animals. Rift valley fever resembles influenza in humans. The disease is of significant importance in Africa.
Transmission : Biting insects and mosquitoes. Possible direct contact via cornea. Human infection occur by handling diseased tissues, and strict precautions should be instituted to prevent infection with this virus, such as wearing goggles and gloves.
Antemortem findings :
Sheep
Cattle
Postmortem findings :
Judgement : Carcass of an animal showing clinical signs of Rift Valley fever is condemned. Reactors and recovered animals are approved. Affected parts of the carcass, liver and the blood must be condemned.
Differential diagnosis : Defect in porphyrin metabolism, fungal conditions, acute viremias/toxaemias including enterotoxaemia, bluetongue, bovine ephemeral fever, Wesselbron disease, rinderpest, heartwater, East Coast fever; abortions caused by Brucella, Vibrio, Trichomonas, Nairobi sheep disease and ovine enzootic abortion
Fig. 149: RVE. Encrustation around the muzzle.
Fig. 150: RVF. Haemorrhages in the fetus and haemothorax.
A highly infectious pox virus disease of sheep and goats manifested by the occurrence of the pustular and scabby lesions on the lips, muzzle and udder.
Transmission : Direct contact between animals. Indirect contact with dry scabs in pens. The virus is resistant to drying and may be viable in scabs for months and years in empty feedlots and pens. Farm workers may disseminate the virus among animals of different pens with contaminated equipment, feed and farm vehicles.
Antemortem findings :
Postmortem findings :
Judgement : The carcass is condemned if the disease is accompanied with inflammation of the stomachs and intestines, and with bronchopneumonia. Otherwise, it is approved.
Differential diagnosis : Bluetongue, sheep and goat pox, ulcerative dermatosis, cutaneous anthrax and vesicular diseases
Fig. 151: Contagious ecthyma. Close up view of a proliferative muzzle lesion.
Bluetongue is a highly contagious viral disease of sheep, manifested by fever, oral lesions, lameness and emaciation. The disease occurs mostly in the African region, but also in Asia and the Pacific and in the Western hemisphere, but can be well controlled by vaccination.
Transmission : Biting insects, especially Culicoides gnats and mosquitoes. Vertical transmission occurs in utero. Semen of infected bulls and mechanical transfer of infected blood by needles.
Antemortem findings :
In sheep:
In cattle, the disease resembles the infection in sheep and the clinical signs are from unapparent to mild.
Postmortem findings :
Judgement : Carcass of an animal affected with bluetongue is condemned when the clinical signs of an acute disease are associated with generalized postmortem lesions. The reactor animals are approved.
Differential diagnosis :
Sheep: Photosensitization, contagious ecthyma, sheep pox, polyarthritis, footrot, foot abscesses, laminitis, vesicular stomatitis, white muscle disease, muscular dystrophy in lambs, lungworm infestation and pneumonia.
Bovine: Bovine viral diarrhoea, malignant catarrhal fever, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, stomatitis, laminitis and Ibaraki disease, FMD.
Fig. 152 : Blue tongue. Mucopurulent to bloody nasal discharge.
Fig. 153 : Blue tongue. Intense congestion and swelling of lips and gums and sloughing of the dental pad mucosa.
Fig. 154 : Blue tongue. Close-up view of a lesion on the coronary band of a sheep.
Sheep and goat pox is a contagious viral disease of sheep and goats manifested by papular and pustular eruptions on the skin and in generalized conditions with haemorrhagic inflammation of the respiratory tract.
Transmission : Direct contact with infected animals, aerosols of nasal secretions and saliva and dried scabs. Indirectly by fomites and transportation vehicles.
Antemortem findings :
Postmortem findings :
Judgement : Carcass of an animal showing the clinical disease without secondary complications is conditionally approved pending heat treatment. The recovered animals are approved. The carcass is condemned if the acute febrile or pustular stage of the disease is associated with secondary bacterial infections or if the carcass is inadequately bled. If bacteriological examination showed negative results, this carcass may be conditionally approved pending heat treatment.
Differential diagnosis : Contagious ecthyma, scabies, eczema. ulcerative dermatitis and peste des petits ruminants.
Fig. 155: Sheep pox. Lesions on the muzzle and lips.
Fig. 156: Sheep pox. Necrosis and coalescing of the lesions and loss of wool.
Fig. 157: Sheep pox. Reddish to whitish nodules in the lungs.
Scrapie is a chronic disease of the central nervous system in sheep and occasionally goats characterized by itching, nervous signs and a long incubation period. It is caused by a viral agent called “viroid” or “prion”, which has some of the characteristics of the virus, a “slow” virus like BSE and Maedi.
Transmission : Most likely, the organism enters through breaks in the skin and mucous membranes of susceptible sheep. The agent is present in the lymph nodes, spleen, spinal cord and brain of infected sheep. It is transmitted from sick animals to healthy animals through pasture, where it may be infective for over 3 years. Vertical transmission from the dam and possibly the sire in sheep may also occur. The disease may be transmitted by inoculation of infective material. The agent is resistant to rapid freezing, thawing, boiling for 30 minutes and even to a 20 % formalin solution. At temperatures of 0 – 4°C, the prion is still active after two years. Oscillation of the temperature from 37– 70°C does not affect its infectivity. At temperatures of 94–98°C, the prion is still resistant for 24 hours.
Antemortem findings :
Postmortem findings :
Judgement : Carcass and viscera affected with the clinical disease are condemned. Carcass of contact animals, offspring and ancestors may have a limited distribution or it may be condemned if economically feasible.
Differential diagnosis : Pseudorabies, scabies, thallium poisoning, cobalt deficiency, louping ill, pregnancy toxaemia, external parasitism and photosensitive dermatitis
Fig. 158: Scrapie. Incoordinated gait, twitching of muscles and wild expression in the eyes.
Pulmonary adenomatosis is a chronic progressive pneumonia of sheep with the development of a primary lung neoplasm. This neoplasm is carcinomatous and infrequently metastatic to regional lymph nodes. A retrovirus causes the disease and a herpesvirus acts in a secondary role. This is a disease of old ewes, more then 4 years of age. Lambs and yearling are rarely affected.
Transmission : The disease is experimentally transmitted by inhalation of infected droplets by sheep that are kept in close contact. Vertical transmission from pregnant ewes to fetus has also been demonstrated.
Antemortem findings :
Postmortem findings :
Judgement : Carcass judgement depends on the extent of lung involvement, condition of the carcass and secondary bacterial infection. Extensive lung lesions with metastasis and loss of musculature would necessitate the condemnation of the carcass.
Differential diagnosis : Verminous pneumonia, Maedi/Visna, caseous lymphadenitis and other debilitating diseases
Fig. 159: Pulmonary adenomatosis. Lung lesions showing light grey, enlarged apical and cardiac lobes consisting of numerous greyish coalescing nodules (1 mm to 1 cm in diameter).
Maedi/visna is a highly fatal viral disease of sheep and goats caused by a lentivirus.
Transmission : Through colostrum to newborn lambs and less often by contact with respiratory route.
Antemortem findings :
Postmortem findings :
Judgement : Carcass in good flesh with slight to moderate pulmonary involvement is approved. An emaciated carcass with extensive pulmonary lesions or secondary bacterial infection is condemned.
Differential diagnosis : Parasitic pneumonia, pulmonary adenomatosis (Jaagsiekte) and pseudoglanders (Melioidosis)
Fig. 160: Ovine progressive interstitial pneumonia. Cross section of the lung parenchyma. The lungs are enlarged, non collapsible and have a meaty appearance.
Nairobi sheep disease is a non contagious, tick borne viral disease in sheep manifested by acute haemorrhagic inflammation of the stomach and intestine and by respiratory signs.
Transmission : Adult forms of a tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus which attach themselves inside the ear of an animal. Unfed adult ticks are infective for one year. Faeces does not contain the virus.
Antemortem findings :
Postmortem findings :
Judgement : Carcass of an animal affected with the acute disease accompanied with fever and acute gastrointestinal lesions is condemned. Carcass of recovered animals and of animals with non systemic or generalized lesions is approved. The affected organs are condemned.
Differential diagnosis : Rift Valley fever in sheep. Diarrhoea in RVF may show blood tinged watery faeces, but is not green in colour as in NSD. In rinderpest ulcerative lesions are noted with bloody (and not green) faeces. Heartwater, anthrax and plant poisoning should also be considered in differential diagnosis.
Fig. 161: Nairobi sheep disease. Acute haemorrhagic inflammation of the stomachs.
Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia is a contagious disease of goats caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subs. capri (mycoplasma biotype F 38). The disease resembles bovine pleuropneumonia, however it is not transmissible to cattle.
Transmission : By inhalation; carrier or infected animals may also bring the infection into the flock.
Antemortem findings :
Postmortem findings :
Judgement : Carcass of an animal affected with contagious caprine pleuropneumonia which shows no systemic involvement is approved. The affected organs are condemned. The septicemic form of the disease calls for carcass condemnation.
Differential diagnosis : Foot and mouth disease, vesicular stomatitis, shipping fever (pasteurellosis), East Coast fever, foreign body pneumonia, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, tuberculosis, chlamidial infections and lungworms
Fig. 162: Contagious caprine pleuropneumoni a. Fibrinous inflammation of the pleura.
Fig. 163 A: Brucellosis. Edema and swelling of scrotum.
Black quarter is an acute infectious disease of sheep and cattle manifested by inflammation of the muscles, toxaemia and high mortality. It is caused by Clostridium chauvoei.
Transmission : Contaminated soil. The organisms enter into the digestive tract with feed and through cuts which occur during the shearing, docking, and castration, and via naval infection during birth. Infection of the vulva and vagina of the ewes during lambing may cause serious outbreak of the disease. Black leg is worldwide in distribution. Well nourished and grass fed animals are more often affected.
Antemortem findings :
Postmortem findings :
Judgement : Total condemnation of the carcass and viscera of an animal affected with black leg. It is prohibited to slaughter and dress the animal diagnosed with this disease on antemortem examination.
Differential diagnosis : Other acute Clostridial infections, lightning strike, anthrax, bacillary haemoglobinuria, malignant edema, extensive haemorrhage, acute lead poisoning and lactation tetany
This disease is a fatal toxaemia in lambs, sheep, goats, calves and seldom in adult cattle. The disease is manifested by diarrhoea, involuntary contraction of muscles, paralysis and sudden death. It occurs after a sudden change to a better, more nutritious diet. The disease is often noted in sheep that have been fed heavy grain, and in animals which graze on lush growing pastures. Clostridium perfringens multiplies in abomasum and intestine and produces toxin which paralyses the vital centres in brain and damages endothelium of blood vessels. The disease occurs extensively in particular in Southern Africa but is well controlled by vaccination.
Antemortem findings :
Postmortem findings :
Judgement : Carcass of an animal affected with enterotoxaemia is condemned.
Differential diagnosis : Sudden death in lambs: pasteurellosis, hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia (reduced blood calcium and magnesium), polioencephalomalatia (less acute form), acute rumen impaction (no convulsions are present and the course is longer) and other septicemias. Adult sheep: rabies, acute lead poisoning, pregnancy toxaemia and louping-ill
Fig. 163: Enterotoxaemia (pulpy kidney). Dilated intestine showing a patchy congestion. Note also congestion of mesenteric lymph nodes.
Black disease causes acute necrotic hepatitis in sheep and cattle and rarely in pigs. It is caused by bacterium Clostridium novyi in association with immature fluke invasion of the liver.
Antemortem findings :
Postmortem findings :
Clostridium novyi is an endemic environmental contaminant and remains latent in the liver, spleen and bone marrow. Immature liver flukes, by migrating through the liver, cause liver necrosis. This initiates Cl. novyi spores to germinate and proliferate. Necrotizing and haemolytic toxins are produced which cause generalized toxaemia and haemolysis of the blood.
Judgement : Carcass and viscera affected with black disease are condemned.
Differential diagnosis : Fascioliasis, enterotoxaemia, blackleg, malignant edema anthrax
Fig. 164: Black disease. Dark brown swollen liver showing necrotic areas (1–2 cm) in diameter surrounded by a zone of hyperaemia.
This is a chronic disease of sheep and goats manifested by abscesses in the lymph nodes. It is caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Caseous lymphadenitis has a worldwide distribution and causes great economic losses to the sheep industry.
Transmission : Discharge from the lymph nodes, via wounds caused by shearing, castration and docking, contaminated sheep dips, skin abrasions or traumatized oral mucosa. Animals with open abscesses should be segregated in order to prevent the spread of the disease.
Antemortem findings :
Postmortem findings :
Differential diagnosis : Abscesses in the organs and viscera, neoplasm, echinococcosis and other parasitic lesions
Judgement : If this condition is associated with extensive involvement of many lymph nodes and tissues, suggesting a haematogenous spread, the carcass is condemned. Otherwise it is approved. The affected tissue is condemned.
Remarks : An abscess in a body lymph node is a sequel to the organism gaining entrance into the body via skin wounds etc. The drained area of the lymph node should be examined. If no other lesions are observed, it may be an indication that the lymph node has sequestered the agent. It is not necessary to condemn a quarter or a carcass due to a lesion in one lymph node or in several lymph nodes.
Fig. 165: Caseous lymphadenitis. Caseous abscess filled with greenish-yellow pus in the abdominal muscles.
Fig. 166: Caseous lymphadenitis. Firm and dry abscess in the kidney.
Coenurosis is a disease of the brain and spinal cord caused by the intermediate stage of Taenia multiceps which inhabits the intestine of dogs, cats and wild carnivores. The clinical disease occurs in sheep and rarely in cattle.
Life cycle : Eggs expelled with dog faeces are ingested by the intermediate host (sheep). The larvae hatch in the intestine and pass with the blood stream towards different organs. The larvae which reach the brain and spinal cord grow to the coenurid stage. Coenurus cerebralis will further mature in the brain and spinal cord.
Antemortem findings:
During migration of larval stage
Infection with the fully developed larval stage
Postmortem findings :
Fig. 167: Coenurus cerebralis. Thin walled cyst in the brain.
Judgement : Carcass affected with coenurosis is approved. Affected brain and organs are condemned.
Differential diagnosis : Abscess, haemorrhage, brain tumours and in early stages, inflammation of the brain and rabies
Hydatid disease occurs in sheep, cattle, swine, horses and humans. Echinococcosis is a disease which occurs when the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis are ingested by an intermediate host (sheep, cattle). These larvae then develop into hydatid cysts in various tissues. The adult tape worms are found in dogs, cats and other carnivores. They may ingest the hydatid cysts by eating infected organs of the intermediate hosts. The scolex attaches to the intestinal wall. Adult tapeworms develop in approximately seven weeks and eggs are shed in the faeces and are ingested by sheep and cattle. The ova hatch to liberate the onchospheres which penetrate the intestinal wall and through the portal venous supply to the liver where they become arrested. In older sheep and cattle the larvae may reach the lungs and various other organs through the systemic circulation. The most common sites of cysts are the liver and lungs. The cysts are different sizes and shapes and they contain a clear fluid. Due to the growth of the cyst, pressure atrophy is noted in the surrounding tissue.
Daughter cysts are found outside the mother cyst and are formed due to trauma or external pressure on the mother cyst. They may or may not be attached to the mother cyst. Daughter-cyst formation may have neoplastic characteristics when there is penetration to the blood and lymph vessels and metastases to various distant organs.
Humans gets infected with hydatid disease via the ingestion of ova from Echinococcus tapeworm in the dog. This usually occurs by touching dog hair that has been contaminated by ova from faeces. It also may occur by the dog transferring ova from the anus to its mouth and then by licking humans.
Postmortem findings : Multiple Echinococcus granulosus cysts in the liver, lungs (Fig. 168) and other organs.
Judgement : The animal carcass affected with echinococcosis is approved if edema and emaciation are not found. Otherwise the carcass is condemned. The affected organs are also condemned and must be destroyed. The lungs are most commonly affected and these should be carefully checked because lesions are often missed on routine inspection.
Differential diagnosis : C. tenuicollis, C. cellulosae, calcified TB lesions and congenital cysts
Fig. 168 : Echinococcosis. E. granulosus cysts in the liver.
Dictyocaulus filaria is the common sheep lung worm which cause verminous pneumonia or bronchitis.
Life cycle : (Fig. 169) Adult worms live in the bronchi where they lay eggs which are coughed up to pharynx and swallowed by the host. The eggs are hatched in the digestive tract and the larvae are then expelled in the faeces. In a moist environment and moderate temperature, the larve will become infective in 3 – 7 days. Larvae are rsistant to cold, althourhg it will cause their maturation to be delayed. Upon digestion by sheep (primary host), larvae penetrate the intestinal wall and reach the meenteric lymph nodes. From the mesenteric lymph nodes via the blood stream, larvae migrate to the lung alveoli and further to the bronchi. They mature in the bronchi and lay eggs. The cycle is then repeated.
Muellerius capillaris parasitises in the alveoli and pulmonary parenchyma. Intermediate hosts are snails and slugs which sheep inget during grazing. Larvae reach the lungs and produce small greyish nodules on the back of the lungs.
antemortem findings :
Post mortem findings :
Judgement : Carcass is approved in lung worm infestation if no secondary changes are observed. The lungs are condemned. If lung worm infestation has caused pneumonia, emaciation or anaemia, the carcass is condemned.
Diferential diagnosis : bacterial bronchoppeumonia, abscess, necrobacillosis, tuberculosis, actinobacillosis, hydatid disease and atelectasis
Fig. 169 : Life history of lungworm of sheep
Fig. 170: Lung worms. Numerous greyish nodules of M. cpaillaris in the lung parenchyma.
The fluke Fasciola hepatica is most frequently found in sheep and cattle and less often in goats and swine. Acute fascioliasis occurs almost entirely in sheep. In sheep and cattle, wandering flukes damage liver tissue and bile ducts which then become thickened and fibrous.
Life cycle: Thadult flukes of Fasciola hepatica are found in the bile ducts and gall baladder. The eggs are shed into the bile duct from which they pass to the intestine. With animal faeces, the eggs are expelled out on the pasture.
The larve (miracidia) enter aquatic snails (Limnea truncatula) which are the intermediate hosts and develop into sporocysts and later into rediae. The rediae will further develop into the final larval stage (cercaria). Cercaria will transform in the external environment to metacercaria. If ingested by herbivorous animals, metacercaria will penetrate the small intestinal wall, cross the peritoneal space and reach the liver. In the bile ducts, metacercaria will mature into an adult fluke. The metacercariae which do not reach the bile ducts will encapsulate in the liver parenchyma.
Fasciloides magna is a large liver fluke which is prevalent in elk, deer and moose. Sheep and goats are susceptible to infection if they share the pasture with those wild animals. F. magna in sheep continuously migrate through the liver parenchyma and may cause death in less than six months.
Lancet flukes (Dicrocoelium dendriticum) in sheep cause little damage to the liver parenchyma except for a moderate to marked thickening of the bile ducts.
Antemortem findings :
Postmortem findings :
Judgement : Carcass of an animal affected with fascioliasis is approved if in good flesh and emaciation and edema are not observed. A heavily infested parasitic liver is condemned.
Differential diagnosis : Nutritional deficiencies of copper and cobalt, infectious necrotic hepatitis, black disease, anthrax, enterotoxaemia, melanosis, melanoma
Fig. 171: Fascioliasis. Black parasitic debris in the liver.
Cysticercus tenuicollis is the cystic stage of tape worm Taenia hydatigena which is found in dogs and cats. Ova pass with dog faeces on the pasture and may get ingested by intermediate hosts sheep and pigs. Larvae which develop from ova penetrate the intestine and pass by portal vein to various tissues especially the omentum, mesentery, peritoneum and liver. Migration through the liver leaves greyish-white tortuous tracts. If larvae reach the liver surface they develop into thin-walled fluid filled bladders and if they fail they degenerate and become calcified.
Heavy infestation with Cysticercus tenuicollis in young animals causing liver damage and haemorrhages or peritonitis, rarely results in the death of the animal.
Antemortem findings :
Moderate to heavy infections produce:-
Postmortem findings :
Judgement : The carcass affected with cysticercus tenuicollis is approved. The organs are condemned and affected serous membranes should be stripped.
Differential diagnosis : C. bovis, C. cellulosae, hydatid cysts and calcified TB lesions
Fig. 172: Cysticercus tenuicollis. Numerous subserosal cysts in the liver.
Cysticercus ovis is the larval stage of Taenia ovis, a tapeworm found in the intestines of dogs and wild carnivores. Its development is similar to that of Taenia saginata. However, in the case of Taenia ovis, the definitive hosts are sheep. The cysts are found in the heart, diaphragm, masseters and the skeletal musculature of sheep. They are fully developed from 7 to 10 weeks after the ingestion of the ova. The rapid degeneration of cysts commence almost immediately after the cysts reach maximum development. When degenerated, the cysts appears as a caseous nodule in the musculature.
Antemortem findings : Usually no clinical signs are recognized.
Postmortem findings :
Judgement : In moderate or light infestation consisting of a small number of dead or degenerated cysticerci, the carcass can be boned out under supervision, the cysts removed and the meat passed after being held for 10 days at -10°C. If the freezing treatment is not possible, the heating of the carcass at 56°C is suggested.
In heavy infestations the carcass is condemned. It is commonly considered that an animal is heavily infested if lesions are discovered in two of the usual inspection sites including the masseter muscle, tongue, oesophagus, heart, diaphragm or exposed musculature and in two sites during incision into the shoulder and the rounds. Carcasses with C. ovis infestations may not be acceptable for export.
Differential diagnosis : Sarcocystosis, eosinophilic myositis, neurofibromatosis, abscesses, C. tenuicollis, caseous lymphadenitis
Fig. 173: Cysticercus ovis. The heart of an old ewe showing heavy infestation with C. ovis. The cysts have degenerated and undergone calcification. (Courtesy Dr. D. Baucks)
Fig. 174: Skeletal muscles of a sheep with several cysts of C. ovis undergoing calcification. (Courtesy Dr. D. Baucks)
This is a tape worm which occurs in the bile duct of sheep, goats and wild ruminants. The life cycle is not completely known but oribatid mites are suspected of transmitting the parasites. The parasite affects animals of all ages and is considered non pathogenic. Heavy infections are frequently seen in apparently healthy sheep. With almost complete occlusion of the bile ducts, icterus and the other clinical signs are not observed. There are areas where approximately 80 % of sheep and goat livers are affected.
Judgement : The carcass is approved unless associated with emaciation. The affected liver is condemned. In some parts of the world, all sheep livers are condemned on postmortem inspection, because of high rate of liver infections.
Fig. 175: Stilesia hepatica. Long, threadlike parasite (20-50 cm long and up to 3 mm wide) in the sheep liver.
Babesiosis is a protozoan parasitic febrile disease of cattle, horses, sheep and swine caused by Babesia spp..
In sheep and goats, babesiosis is caused by Babesia motasi and Babesia ovis. Acute signs of the disease are characterized with fever, anaemia, parasitemia and haemoglobinuria. B. ovis usually causes a milder form of the disease than does B. motasi. The parasite grows and multiplies in the blood corpuscles (erythrocytes) of sheep and goats and causes haemoglobin (constituent of erythrocytes) elimination in urine (haemoglobinuria).
Transmission : Different species of ticks in the family Ixodidae serve as vectors of infection. Babesia ovis infection transmitted experimentally in sheep has caused acute signs of disease, parasitemia and lasting immunity similar with babesiosis in cattle.
Antemortem findings :
There are no characteristic signs in the chronic disease.
Postmortem findings :
Judgement : Carcass of an animal in the subclinical form of the disease or in the chronic stage may have a favourable judgement providing the carcass is adequately set and icterus is not present. An animal carcass showing acute form of the disease accompanied with fever, marked anaemia and haemoglobinuria and/or emaciation is condemned.
Differential diagnosis : Trypanosomiasis, theileriosis, haemobartenellosis, leptospirosis, bacillary haemoglobinuria and anaplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is a contagious disease of animals and man caused by protozoon Toxoplasma gondii. It is found most frequently in pigs and sheep. Toxoplasma in sheep is manifested with abortion and stillbirths in ewes.
Life cycle : see Fig. 147
Antemortem findings:
The systemic disease is seldom found in sheep.
Postmortem findings:
Judgement: Carcass of an animal showing clinical signs of acute disease is condemned. Recovered and reactor animals are approved.
Differential diagnosis:
Abortion in ewes: brucellosis, campylobacteriosis, listeriosis, salmonellosis and Rift Valley fever Brain lesions: salt poisoning, chlorinated hydrocarbons, lead, mercury, Vitamin A deficiency, hypoglycaemia, encephalomalacia, meningitis, rabies and scrapie
Fig. 176: Toxoplasmosis. Brain haemorrhage, edema and ventricular dilatation. The specimen was fixed in 10% formalin solution.
Fig. 177: Toxoplasmosis. Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). Tachyzoites are distributed throughout the brain where they encysts and produce bradyzoites.
Theileriosis is thick borne disease of sheep and goats, cattle, buffalo and wild ruminants caused by species of protozoa in the genus Theileria. In sheep and goats, the infections are caused by T. hirci and T. ovis. Theileria hirci is the cause of an acute and highly fatal disease of sheep and goats in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North Africa. The subacute and chronic forms have also been reported. Mild infection in noted young lambs and kids. Theileria ovis causes a milk disease in sheep and goats; a disease from which they rapidly recover.
Transmission : The thick vector is unknown in Theileria hirci infection, although Hyalomma spp. are suspected.
Antemortem findings :
In acute form
Postmortem findings :
Judgement : Carcass and viscera of an animal showing clinical signs of chronic theileriosis and being without gross lesions, are approved. If the acute form of the disease is accompanied with fever, icterus and generalized lesions, the carcass and organs are condemned.
Differential diagnosis : Babesiosis, Rift Valley Fever and catarrhal fever of sheep
Sarcocystosis of sheep is a widespread infestation caused by four species of Sarcocystis (Table 2). Nearly all adult sheep in most parts of the world are infested. Three other species of Sarcocystis have been described from goats. Their prevalence and importance in meat inspection are not fully known.
The general pattern of the life-cycle is similar to that described for Sarcocystis cruzi in cattle except that each species uses its own definitive hosts. S. tenella and S. gigantea cause the most widespread infestations. S tenella produces microcysts and are the most pathogenic. S. gigantea produces macrocysts and are generally not pathogenic but because of their large size they are important in meat inspection.
| Species | Distribution | Definitive Hosts | Size and Shape of Cyst | Pathogenicity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sarcocystis tenella | World-wide | Dog, coyote and red fox | Microscopic, up to 0.7 mm long, may be found in the central nervous system | Pathogenic. Causes anorexia, weight loss, anaemia, fever, abortion and even death. It is the most pathogenic sheep Sarcocystis sp. |
| Sarcocystis gigantea | World-wide | The domestic cat | Macroscopic, oval or elongated and measures up to 1 cm long, More common in order sheep. | Only mildly pathogenic. |
| Sarcocystis arieticanis | Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the USA | Dog | Microscopic, up to 0.9mm long. | They are less pathogenic than S. tenella |
| Sarcocystis medusiformis | Australia and New Zealand | Cat | Macroscopic, filiform and elongated up to 8mm long and 0.2mm wide. | Pathogenicity not known. |
Antemortem findings (in S. tenella infection):
Postmortem findings (in S. gigantea infestations) :
Judgement : In heavy infestations the carcass is condemned. In moderate to light infestations the lesions are removed and the carcass is passed.
Differential diagnosis : Myositis, cysticercosis, grass seeds, necrotic lesions
Fig. 178: Sarcocystis gigantea in the oesophagus of a sheep. They resemble cooked rice grains.
