Lamb anaerobic dysentery: pathogen and symptoms, treatment and consequences

Anaerobic dysentery of newborn lambs is a bloody diarrhea that affects immature young. This dangerous infectious disease is caused by bacteria, the carriers of which can even be he althy-looking adult sheep. Microorganisms live and multiply in the intestines of the lamb, lead to the formation of ulcers on the mucous membranes, their toxins easily penetrate into the bloodstream and cause general intoxication and lightning-fast death of animals.

Pathogen and disease description

Anaerobic dysentery or as they say in Latin - Dysenteria anaerobica agnorum is an infectious disease caused by dangerous microorganisms.The causative agent of the disease is the bacterium Cl. Perfringens type B. The infection enters the body of newborn animals, usually through the mother's nipples stained with infected manure.

Bacteria can safely live in the intestines of adult and he althy-looking sheep and be excreted in faeces, while contaminating the bedding and the entire territory of the barn, sheepfold. These microorganisms are spore-forming microbes. Spore forms can be found not only in manure, but also in the soil, where they remain viable for up to four years, despite seasonal temperature fluctuations. Only 5% creolin, lime mortar, sodium hydroxide, carbolic acid and alcohol kill bacteria.

Dysentery affects little lambs in the first days after birth. True, only individuals with a weakened immune system are ill with it. This happens if pregnant ewes received food poor in vitamins and minerals. According to statistics described in many presentations and scientific papers, 7 out of 10 newborns used to have dysentery, and 3-5 individuals died.

They didn't even have time to cope with this disease. After all, the infection affected lambs in the first 3 days after birth. In cubs after 6 days, dysentery was recorded less frequently. In sick lambs, diarrhea with blood, intoxication, and dehydration began. It is known that microbes have 5-6 hours to start their destructive activity in the body.

Today, the infection affects lambs from disadvantaged farms. This usually happens in the spring, when cubs are born from females weakened by poor feeding. Unfavorable conditions of detention can provoke the disease. The infection affects lambs that are kept on dirty bedding, damp, cold and cramped.

Symptoms and clinical signs

Anaerobic dysentery is easy to identify by its characteristic symptoms. The disease develops, as a rule, quickly, and proceeds sharply. Dysentery is, first of all, diarrhea with a fetid odor.At the very beginning, the stools are thin, greenish or yellow-brown in color. Subsequently, they become thick and dark, with impurities of blood and mucus. The reason for this condition is the vital activity of dangerous microbes.

Bacteria, once in the body of newborn animals, begin to multiply rapidly, releasing toxic substances.

Ulcers appear on the intestinal mucosa. They bleed, causing the entire contents to turn red. Being absorbed into the blood, toxins also poison the body of little lambs, causing acute toxicosis. It is for this reason that sick individuals develop liquid and bloody diarrhea, and the hair near the anus becomes dirty and glued due to frequent bowel movements.

The disease is also characterized by a disorder of the nervous system and a depressed state.Symptoms of anaerobic dysentery are also muscle cramps and impaired coordination of movement. A sick animal may not respond to sounds, stand all day, bending over and pulling in the stomach, and then fall on its side. His body temperature rises to 40-43 degrees, in addition, the pulse and breathing become more frequent. The disease can last for several hours or one to three days and end with the death of sick lambs.

True, there is still a subacute form of dysentery. For 3 weeks the animal can vilify. In this case, the symptoms are as follows: the patient lies most of the time, his condition is depressed, his appetite is poor. The lamb looks very emaciated due to constant dehydration of the body, instead of diarrhea, there are thick stools interspersed with blood and mucus. Subsequently, he may die due to exhaustion.

There is even chronic dysentery, in which lambs are often vilified during the first weeks of life, and over time they often die from toxic poisoning and ulcerative lesions of the intestine.

Diagnosis

Anaerobic dysentery is diagnosed on the basis of the clinical picture, as well as the results of a laboratory test. The disease affects only newborn lambs. Similar symptoms may occur in older sheep, but are indicative of salmonellosis or coccidiosis. Diagnosis requires blood and stool tests. In case of a mass death of lambs, a fresh corpse is sent to the laboratory. Usually they examine the blood, the condition of the small intestine and other organs and systems of the deceased individual.

Treatment and prevention

Anaerobic dysentery is treated immediately after the onset of early symptoms (diarrhea). Assign antitoxic serum, sulfonamides ("Norsulfazol"), antibiotics ("Synthomycin"). At the initial stage, the disease can be treated quickly and effectively. Lambs that have been ill with dysentery and recovered have developed a strong immunity to this infection.

True, it is best to carry out preventive vaccination against dysentery. Babies born from vaccinated ewes are immune to this type of bacteria. In disadvantaged farms, it is recommended to vaccinate all sheep, preferably as early as three months of age. You can even vaccinate pregnant queens one or three months before lambing.

For a similar purpose, a special polyvalent GOA vaccine or anti-clostridial polyanatoxin is used. It is possible to immunize newborn animals in the first hours of life with a specific antitoxic serum.

In addition to vaccination, it is recommended to provide pregnant females with good care and good nutrition. Usually pregnancy falls in the winter. The room where the females are located should not be damp, cold or dirty. Young animals that were born must be kept clean and warm. In the room before lambing, it is necessary not only to replace the litter, but also to disinfect all objects and even the floor.For this purpose, a solution of bleach or creolin is usually used.

Possible consequences

Anaerobic dysentery develops, as a rule, in weakened lambs. If the disease is not treated, then five out of ten newborn sheep may die. The disease is dangerous for its lightning speed. Infection occurs quickly and affects the body of the lamb in a matter of days.

Bacteria poison all organs and systems, leading to ulcers in the small intestine, severe bloody diarrhea. Toxic poisoning and dehydration end in the death of the lamb.

True, in 5 cases out of 10 newborn sheep recover even without treatment. But subsequently they lag behind in growth and gain weight poorly. In ill lambs, there may be problems with the gastrointestinal tract, a decrease in appetite. Negative consequences can be avoided if ewes are vaccinated against dysentery and fed with high-quality feed, pharmacy vitamins and minerals during pregnancy.

Recommended