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Authors :
Carlos Alejandro Robles
F. V. Olaechea
C. Low
Francisco A. Uzal
Source :
Veterinary Research Communications. 22:435-443
Publication Year :
1998
Publisher :
Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 1998.

Abstract

Brucellosis in sheep, caused by Brucella ovis, is primarily a chronic infectious disease of rams with epididymitis as its most characteristic lesion. Six hundred rams from an infected farm were clinically and serologically examined once a year, over a 3-year period. An increase from 2.1% to 6.3% in the prevalence of animals serologically positive to B. ovis occurred over the 3 years. However, the prevalence of rams with lesions in the reproductive tract declined from 14.2% to 6.5% in the third year following one year of strict culling of clinically affected and rams that were serologically positive for B. ovis. Clinical lesions found in the 179 affected rams fell into two main categories: rams with epididymitis and rams with affected lymph nodes. These results suggest that the prevalence of the disease relates mainly to the sexual activity of the animal and not to age in itself. A single cull based on the results of clinical examination and serological test results was unable to decrease the prevalence of B. ovis in an extensive Corriedale sheep flock.

Details

ISSN :
01657380
Volume :
22
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Veterinary Research Communications
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........2fe50d9bd7075cb29daea979e81a8ce1
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1006158514414