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Enterotoxaemia in Sheep
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Enterotoxaemia in Sheep

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary cause of enterotoxemia losses in sheep?

  • Clostridium perfringens toxin production (correct)
  • Grain overload
  • Overconsumption of concentrate rations
  • Blackleg

    • What is a common presentation of affected animals in the acute case of enterotoxemia?

  • Loss of appetite and lethargy (correct)
  • Repetitive kicking at the belly
  • Blood in the stool
  • All of the above

    • What is the significance of glucosuria in diagnosing enterotoxemia?

  • It can indicate enterotoxemia (correct)
  • It is a common symptom
  • It indicates grain overload
  • It is a definitive diagnosis

    • What is the typical outcome for animals that exhibit the posture of lying on their sides with their head and neck extended back over their withers?

    <p>Death within minutes to hours</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is necessary to differentiate enterotoxemia from grain overload?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of postmortem data in diagnosing enterotoxemia?

    <p>It can confirm the diagnosis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common feature of enterotoxemia that differentiates it from grain overload?

    <p>Clostridium perfringens toxin production</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the importance of differentiating enterotoxemia from other acute, fatal diseases of sheep?

    <p>It can help identify the cause of death</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of vaccination in sheep and goats?

    <p>To induce immunity to the toxins generated by Clostridium perfringens types C and D</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of vaccine is often recommended for sheep and goats?

    <p>Three-way vaccine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When should pregnant animals be vaccinated with C/D&T vaccines?

    <p>During the fourth month of pregnancy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How often should young animals be vaccinated?

    <p>Twice at four weeks of age and then 30 days later</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why should animals that appear sick be avoided for vaccination?

    <p>Because they may not respond well to the vaccine</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of feeds can trigger enterotoxemia if fed in excess?

    <p>Grains, silage, milk or milk replacer, and protein supplements</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important to avoid vaccinating goats within 21 days before slaughter?

    <p>To prevent contamination of the meat</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What should be used in case of anaphylaxis caused by a vaccine?

    <p>Epinephrine or its equivalent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary method of confirming the diagnosis of enterotoxemia?

    <p>Laboratory culturing of Clostridium perfringens organisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is often found in the urine of animals affected by enterotoxemia?

    <p>High sugar content</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary goal of treatment in affected individual animals?

    <p>Supportive care only</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic finding in the small intestine of animals with Type C enterotoxemia?

    <p>Discolored and hemorrhagic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary method of prevention of enterotoxemia?

    <p>Vaccination of all animals in the herd</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is often found in the lungs of animals affected by enterotoxemia?

    <p>Congestion and fluid</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a valuable diagnostic aid in the diagnosis of enterotoxemia?

    <p>Culturing of Clostridium perfringens organisms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of feeding roughage in the prevention of enterotoxemia?

    <p>To reduce or eliminate concentrate feeding</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main cause of enterotoxaemia in sheep?

    <p>Absorption of a large amount of toxins from the intestines</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which age group is most susceptible to enterotoxaemia?

    <p>Lambs and kids</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the result of the toxins circulating in the bloodstream in enterotoxaemia?

    <p>Swelling in the lungs and kidneys</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the common history in flocks of affected animals with enterotoxaemia?

    <p>Excessive concentrate ingestion, generally exceeding 3/4 pound per head per day</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the disease caused by the absorption of a large amount of toxins from the intestines?

    <p>Enterotoxaemia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the effect of the toxins on the blood vessels in enterotoxaemia?

    <p>Increased permeability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main factor that contributes to the development of immunity in adult animals?

    <p>Frequent exposure to these toxins</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the bacteria that normally inhabit the intestinal tract of sheep and most mammals?

    <p>Clostridium perfringens</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When introducing high-risk feedstuffs to an animal's diet, what is the recommended approach?

    <p>Divide the daily allotment into several small feedings</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important to feed roughages such as hay before feeding high-risk feedstuffs?

    <p>To allow the animals to become full on hay beforehand</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the recommended approach to increasing the amount of grain fed to a flock or herd?

    <p>Increase the amount gradually over several days</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When turning animals out onto pasture after being fed hay or other stored feeds, what is the recommended approach?

    <p>Begin with 10 minutes of grazing time and double it with each subsequent day</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the recommended approach to feeding heavily milking dams?

    <p>Feed less concentrate and more roughage to limit excessive milk production</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important to keep the feed schedule consistent for lactating does and ewes?

    <p>To limit fluctuations in milk volume for their nursing offspring</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Enterotoxaemia

    • Enterotoxaemia, also known as overeating or pulpy kidney disease, is a highly significant and costly disease problem for the sheep industry.
    • It is a condition caused by the absorption of a large amount of toxins from the intestines.
    • Clostridium perfringens types C & D are bacteria normally found in the soil and as part of the normal microflora in the gastrointestinal tract of a healthy sheep and goats.
    • Under certain conditions, these bacteria can rapidly reproduce in the animals, producing large quantities of toxins.

    Etiology

    • Clostridium perfringens is a normal inhabitant of the intestinal tract of sheep and most mammals.
    • Predisposing conditions often appear to be nutritional and occur most often in the early stages of feeding in feedlot lambs.
    • Excessive concentrate ingestion, generally exceeding 3/4 pound per head per day, is a common history in flocks of affected animals.
    • Other management factors that allow lambs to rapidly engorge, such as irregular feeding or inadequate bunk space, also increase the risk of enterotoxemia.
    • Consumption of large amounts of milk by nursing lambs is also thought to contribute to the occurrence of this disease.

    Clinical Signs

    • Loss of appetite
    • Abdominal discomfort, shown by kicking at the belly and arching the back
    • Profuse diarrhea (watery consistency with or without blood)
    • Affected animals may show signs of stomach pain, such as kicking at their belly, repeatedly laying down and getting up, laying on their sides
    • Diarrhea may develop; in some cases, there is blood visible in the loose stool
    • Animals may lose the ability to stand, lay on their sides, and extend their legs, with their head and neck extended back over their withers
    • Death commonly occurs within minutes to hours after this sign is seen

    Diagnosis

    • Enterotoxemia must be differentiated from other acute, fatal diseases of sheep, such as blackleg, bloat, or acute poisonings
    • Clinical signs of grain overload, or acidosis, are similar to those of enterotoxemia
    • Diagnosis is based on clinical signs, and history of sudden death that can be confirmed by necropsy
    • Diagnosis can be confirmed by positive identification of enterocolitis (inflammation of the intestine)
    • Clostridium perfringens types C & D from the feces, and gut content and kidneys cultured and isolated from the affected animals
    • The presence of glucosuria (high levels of sugar in the urine) can indicate enterotoxemia

    Treatment

    • Treatment of affected individual animals is usually ineffective, thus prevention is essential
    • Antitoxins produced by commercial companies can be given either orally or by injection
    • Administration of antibiotics such as penicillin may be recommended, but is frequently of little value after clinical signs appear
    • Other supportive therapy, such as fluids, vitamins, or cortisone, may be prescribed

    Prevention

    • Prevention of enterotoxemia is far more likely to be successful than trying to treat the disease
    • All animals in a herd should be vaccinated against enterotoxemia
    • Vaccination will reduce the chances that animals will contract enterotoxemia

    Vaccination

    • Vaccination is the cornerstone to prevention of this disease
    • For sheep and goats, there are multiple vaccines available that induce immunity to the toxins generated by Clostridium perfringens types C and D
    • Vaccinate pregnant animals with C/ D&T vaccines during the fourth month of pregnancy
    • Vaccinate all young animals at four weeks of age and then 30 days later
    • Vaccinate bucks and all adult animals once a year

    Feeding Strategies

    • Feed roughages such as hay before feeding higher-risk feedstuffs, such as grain
    • Divide the daily allotment for each animal into as many small feedings as is feasible (three to four feedings)
    • Make feed changes slowly, and provide an adequate number of feeding sites or feeder space to enable all animals an equal chance to eat
    • For animals being turned out onto pasture after being fed hay or other stored feeds, a conservative thumb rule is to begin by allowing only about 10 minutes of grazing time on the first day and double this with each subsequent day

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    Learn about Enterotoxaemia, a costly disease affecting the sheep industry, its causes, prevention, and impact on sheep producers.

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