Dr Joan Lloyd, Joan Lloyd Consulting, and Dr Steve Cotton, Dynamic Ag, recently received funding from MLA to investigate the prevalence and distribution of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae in sheep flocks across Victoria.
All breeds of sheep are susceptible to infection with Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae. Infection persists in a flock in chronic carrier ewes and rams, with infection passing from ewes to lambs soon after birth. Ewes shed the bacteria from their nose and throat, as well as in their milk. Lambs may begin showing signs from around 1-2 months of birth. Typically, signs of pneumonia in sheep and lambs include wheezing, coughing, runny nose, runny eyes, mouth breathing, laboured breathing, difficulty suckling, swelling of the leg joints, cloudy eyes, poor growth rates and death. If left untreated, infection with Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae can lead to arthritis in sheep and goats, resulting in swollen, hot, painful leg joints. Chronically infected ewes and does are more likely to develop mastitis. Animals can lose condition quickly and may die.
The prevalence and distribution of pneumonia on Victorian sheep farms is limited to abattoir surveillance and confirmation of disease through veterinary and pathology intervention meaning that subclinical disease on-farm goes un-noticed. Anecdotally, farmers in Victoria are experiencing an increase in cases of pneumonia and/or pleurisy on farm throughout the year but it is unclear if this is a result of varying seasonal conditions or management factors. There is also increasing frustration from producers experiencing reoccurrence of the disease across multiple seasons despite changes in management to reduce or avoid the disease.
The research work will be:
- Sampling lines of direct consigned lambs in three Victorian abattoirs across two years
- Conducting a survey of Victorian sheep producers to identify links in management or breed between low and high distribution of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae
- Using the data collected from the survey to identify 100 businesses across Victoria where we can randomly take nasal swabs from lambs at or post weaning to test for the prevalence of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae.
How can you help? You can contribute by completing the short 5-6 minute survey by scanning the QR code below or following this link.
If you do not wish to participate in the free on-farm nasal swabbing you don’t have to, but completing the survey will still be very valuable to the research. Thank you.
