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Deaths of weaned lambs with visceral Listeria ivanovii i nfections
Author(s) -
Dunnett Elizabeth,
Florea Laura,
Thurston Lisa,
Floyd Tobias,
Collins Rachael,
Otter Arthur
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
veterinary record case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.165
H-Index - 4
ISSN - 2052-6121
DOI - 10.1136/vetreccr-2020-001254
Subject(s) - medicine , flock , listeria monocytogenes , listeria , veterinary medicine , abortion , biology , pregnancy , bacteria , genetics
Listeriosis in humans and ruminants is most frequently associated with Listeria monocytogenes , with Listeria ivanovii only occasionally identified, mostly causing abortion in sheep. Between September 2018 and January 2019, visceral L ivanovii infection was identified in seven weaned lambs from five farms examined postmortem at APHA VICs. In each of the lambs, there was gastrointestinal pathology which was confirmed to be caused by parasitic gastroenteritis (PGE) in six of the lambs and suspected in the seventh. The findings described in this case series demonstrate the benefits of including abdominal viscera bacteriology in diarrhoeic lambs where concurrent bacterial infections are possible, in addition to parasitological examinations. As PGE was found as an underlying debilitating condition on four of the five farms, these cases also highlight the importance of having a sustainable parasite control programme in place as part of a flock health plan.