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Sheep Chat Thread
- Thread starter Acresofchickens
- Start date
I wanted to post this so that everyone can be aware of this. I shared my situation about my ewe in a yahoo group and someone shared this information with me. This is scary. My ewe is a little better but still not herself. Perhaps my girl could be suffering with this.
http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/scrapie.pdf
Scrapie is a neurodegenerative disease, caused by a prion, that affects sheep and occasionally goats. In sheep, the animal’s genotype strongly influences the incidence of disease. Genetically susceptible sheep do not become ill for several years; however, scrapie is progressive and fatal once the symptoms develop. Typically, scrapie results in production losses and an annual mortality rate of 3-5% in a flock; in severely affected flocks, the annual mortality rate can reach 20%. The presence of this disease can result in trade sanctions, and many countries are conducting control or eradication programs.
As a result of scrapie surveillance, an atypical form of this disease has recently been detected in many countries in Europe, as well as in the United States. This novel form of scrapie, which was first reported from Norway in 1998, is called Nor98. Nor98 scrapie can occur in sheep that are genetically resistant to classical scrapie. The tissue distribution of the Nor98 prion differs from that of the classical prion protein, and some testing protocols must be modified to detect this form. Other atypical forms of scrapie have also been found in some countries.
Etiology
Scrapie is a member of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), a group of neurodegenerative disorders caused by unconventional disease agents. These agents are resistant to the treatments that ordinarily destroy bacteria, spores, viruses and fungi. They are generally thought to be prions, although a minority opinion suggests that TSEs may be caused by virinos or retroviruses. Prions are infectious proteins that seem to replicate by converting a normal cellular protein into copies of the prion. This cellular protein, which is called PrPc, is found on the surface of neurons. The scrapie prion, which is a pathogenic isoform of PrPc, is designated PrPSc. Strain variations occur in the scrapie prion. Atypical scrapie prions including the Nor98 agent have also been found.
Species Affected
Scrapie affects sheep, goats, and moufflon (Ovis musimon). Rats, mice, hamsters, monkeys and a variety of other laboratory and wild animals can be infected experimentally. The Nor98 form of scrapie has been reported in sheep and goats.
Transmission
Transmission of scrapie is best understood in sheep. Infected animals carry the scrapie prion for life, and can transmit the agent even if they remain asymptomatic. Most animals become infected from their dam, either at or soon after birth. In genetically susceptible, infected ewes, prions may be found in the reproductive tract, including the placenta, during pregnancy. These ewes can produce either prion-positive or prion-negative placentas, depending on the genotype of the fetus (for details, see Genotype and Scrapie Susceptibility in Sheep, below). Neonatal animals become infected when they lick or ingest fetal membranes and fluids. In confined lambing areas, the disease can also spread to the offspring of uninfected sheep. Uninfected adult ewes may be infected from this source, although they are more resistant. Vertical transmission in utero might be possible, but current evidence suggests that transmission mainly occurs after birth.
Transmission can also occur by direct contact between sheep. The scrapie agent has been detected in the nervous system, salivary glands, tonsils, lymph nodes, nictitating membrane, spleen, distal ileum, proximal colon and muscles. Urinary excretion has recently been reported in mice with nephritis, and also in hamsters, but it has not been documented in sheep. The importance of environmental contamination is controversial. A recent report suggests that the scrapie agent persisted in a sheep barn in Iceland for 16 years. This prion has also been isolated from an experimentally contaminated soil sample after three years. Transmission via contaminated fomites such as knives is theoretically possible, and transmission has been reported in a contaminated vaccine.
Transmission has not been studied extensively in goats. Most infected goats have a history of contact with sheep, and are probably infected by contact with the placenta or nasal secretions. Transmission through fomites may also be possible. Experimental infections have been established in goats by feeding prion-containing fetal membranes, as well as by intracerebral or subcutaneous inoculation.
Incubation Period
The incubation period is usually 2 to 5 years in sheep; cases are rare in sheep less than a year old. Cases of scrapie have been reported in 2 to 8 year old goats. The incubation period in experimentally infected goats is less than three years, with a range of 30 to 146 weeks.
Clinical Signs
The symptoms of scrapie are variable in sheep, and can be influenced by the strain of the prion and the sheep’s genotype and/or breed. The first symptoms are usually behavioral: affected sheep tend to stand apart from the flock and may either trail or lead when the flock is driven. As the disease progresses, animals usually become hyperexcitable and have a high-stepping or unusual hopping gait and/or a fixed stare, with the head held high. Other symptoms may include ataxia, incoordination, blindness, trembling, or convulsions when being handled. Intense pruritus is common and may lead to rubbing, scraping or chewing. Scratching of the dorsum or pressure over the base of the tail may cause a characteristic nibbling response due to pruritus. Loss of condition is common in the early stages, and significant weight loss or emaciation may be seen late. The fleece may be dry and brittle. Drinking behavior and urination can also change, with affected animals drinking small quantities of water often. Most animals die two to six weeks after the onset of symptoms, but deaths may occur up to six months later.
In sheep with the Nor98 variant, incoordination and ataxia appear to be major symptoms. Pruritus seems to be minimal or uncommon, although it has been seen in some animals. Loss of body condition, anxiety, tremors, abnormal menace responses or a subdued mental status have been reported in some cases, but not others. Some cases of atypical scrapie have been found by routine surveillance in apparently healthy flocks at slaughter.
Variable clinical signs have been reported in goats with scrapie. In one case, the only symptoms were listlessness, weight loss and premature cessation of lactation. The clinical signs may also resemble scrapie in sheep, with behavioral changes such as irritability and loss of inquisitiveness, as well as hyperesthesia, incoordination, posture abnormalities, unusual alertness, restlessness, tremors, teeth grinding, salivation, impaired vision or regurgitation of rumen contents. Some goats have been reported to stamp and hold their heads down as if they are bothered by nonexistent flies. In late stages, animals may appear drowsy and have difficulty rising. Pruritus is less common in goats than in sheep; if it occurs, it is typically less intense and often localized over the tailhead or withers. As in sheep, the disease is progressive, with prostration and death 1-6 months after the onset of symptoms.
Treatment
There is no treatment for scrapie.
Control
The risk of introducing scrapie can be reduced by maintaining a closed flock or minimizing outside purchases of stock. If replacement animals must be added to the flock, they should be from flocks that are negative for this disease.
Goats usually become infected after contact with sheep. Goats should not be mixed with sheep of unknown scrapie status. Outside purchases of stock should be minimized.
Public health
There is no evidence that scrapie can be transmitted to humans
http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/scrapie.pdf
Scrapie is a neurodegenerative disease, caused by a prion, that affects sheep and occasionally goats. In sheep, the animal’s genotype strongly influences the incidence of disease. Genetically susceptible sheep do not become ill for several years; however, scrapie is progressive and fatal once the symptoms develop. Typically, scrapie results in production losses and an annual mortality rate of 3-5% in a flock; in severely affected flocks, the annual mortality rate can reach 20%. The presence of this disease can result in trade sanctions, and many countries are conducting control or eradication programs.
As a result of scrapie surveillance, an atypical form of this disease has recently been detected in many countries in Europe, as well as in the United States. This novel form of scrapie, which was first reported from Norway in 1998, is called Nor98. Nor98 scrapie can occur in sheep that are genetically resistant to classical scrapie. The tissue distribution of the Nor98 prion differs from that of the classical prion protein, and some testing protocols must be modified to detect this form. Other atypical forms of scrapie have also been found in some countries.
Etiology
Scrapie is a member of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), a group of neurodegenerative disorders caused by unconventional disease agents. These agents are resistant to the treatments that ordinarily destroy bacteria, spores, viruses and fungi. They are generally thought to be prions, although a minority opinion suggests that TSEs may be caused by virinos or retroviruses. Prions are infectious proteins that seem to replicate by converting a normal cellular protein into copies of the prion. This cellular protein, which is called PrPc, is found on the surface of neurons. The scrapie prion, which is a pathogenic isoform of PrPc, is designated PrPSc. Strain variations occur in the scrapie prion. Atypical scrapie prions including the Nor98 agent have also been found.
Species Affected
Scrapie affects sheep, goats, and moufflon (Ovis musimon). Rats, mice, hamsters, monkeys and a variety of other laboratory and wild animals can be infected experimentally. The Nor98 form of scrapie has been reported in sheep and goats.
Transmission
Transmission of scrapie is best understood in sheep. Infected animals carry the scrapie prion for life, and can transmit the agent even if they remain asymptomatic. Most animals become infected from their dam, either at or soon after birth. In genetically susceptible, infected ewes, prions may be found in the reproductive tract, including the placenta, during pregnancy. These ewes can produce either prion-positive or prion-negative placentas, depending on the genotype of the fetus (for details, see Genotype and Scrapie Susceptibility in Sheep, below). Neonatal animals become infected when they lick or ingest fetal membranes and fluids. In confined lambing areas, the disease can also spread to the offspring of uninfected sheep. Uninfected adult ewes may be infected from this source, although they are more resistant. Vertical transmission in utero might be possible, but current evidence suggests that transmission mainly occurs after birth.
Transmission can also occur by direct contact between sheep. The scrapie agent has been detected in the nervous system, salivary glands, tonsils, lymph nodes, nictitating membrane, spleen, distal ileum, proximal colon and muscles. Urinary excretion has recently been reported in mice with nephritis, and also in hamsters, but it has not been documented in sheep. The importance of environmental contamination is controversial. A recent report suggests that the scrapie agent persisted in a sheep barn in Iceland for 16 years. This prion has also been isolated from an experimentally contaminated soil sample after three years. Transmission via contaminated fomites such as knives is theoretically possible, and transmission has been reported in a contaminated vaccine.
Transmission has not been studied extensively in goats. Most infected goats have a history of contact with sheep, and are probably infected by contact with the placenta or nasal secretions. Transmission through fomites may also be possible. Experimental infections have been established in goats by feeding prion-containing fetal membranes, as well as by intracerebral or subcutaneous inoculation.
Incubation Period
The incubation period is usually 2 to 5 years in sheep; cases are rare in sheep less than a year old. Cases of scrapie have been reported in 2 to 8 year old goats. The incubation period in experimentally infected goats is less than three years, with a range of 30 to 146 weeks.
Clinical Signs
The symptoms of scrapie are variable in sheep, and can be influenced by the strain of the prion and the sheep’s genotype and/or breed. The first symptoms are usually behavioral: affected sheep tend to stand apart from the flock and may either trail or lead when the flock is driven. As the disease progresses, animals usually become hyperexcitable and have a high-stepping or unusual hopping gait and/or a fixed stare, with the head held high. Other symptoms may include ataxia, incoordination, blindness, trembling, or convulsions when being handled. Intense pruritus is common and may lead to rubbing, scraping or chewing. Scratching of the dorsum or pressure over the base of the tail may cause a characteristic nibbling response due to pruritus. Loss of condition is common in the early stages, and significant weight loss or emaciation may be seen late. The fleece may be dry and brittle. Drinking behavior and urination can also change, with affected animals drinking small quantities of water often. Most animals die two to six weeks after the onset of symptoms, but deaths may occur up to six months later.
In sheep with the Nor98 variant, incoordination and ataxia appear to be major symptoms. Pruritus seems to be minimal or uncommon, although it has been seen in some animals. Loss of body condition, anxiety, tremors, abnormal menace responses or a subdued mental status have been reported in some cases, but not others. Some cases of atypical scrapie have been found by routine surveillance in apparently healthy flocks at slaughter.
Variable clinical signs have been reported in goats with scrapie. In one case, the only symptoms were listlessness, weight loss and premature cessation of lactation. The clinical signs may also resemble scrapie in sheep, with behavioral changes such as irritability and loss of inquisitiveness, as well as hyperesthesia, incoordination, posture abnormalities, unusual alertness, restlessness, tremors, teeth grinding, salivation, impaired vision or regurgitation of rumen contents. Some goats have been reported to stamp and hold their heads down as if they are bothered by nonexistent flies. In late stages, animals may appear drowsy and have difficulty rising. Pruritus is less common in goats than in sheep; if it occurs, it is typically less intense and often localized over the tailhead or withers. As in sheep, the disease is progressive, with prostration and death 1-6 months after the onset of symptoms.
Treatment
There is no treatment for scrapie.
Control
The risk of introducing scrapie can be reduced by maintaining a closed flock or minimizing outside purchases of stock. If replacement animals must be added to the flock, they should be from flocks that are negative for this disease.
Goats usually become infected after contact with sheep. Goats should not be mixed with sheep of unknown scrapie status. Outside purchases of stock should be minimized.
Public health
There is no evidence that scrapie can be transmitted to humans
Odessa, my ancient St. Croix ewe, after nabbing a birthday cake that was consigned to the chickens.
Odessa with her ewe lamb Morgan and Arthur our new ram bottle baby
My daughter and Arthur, our new purebred Dorper ram
Kuntrygirl I am sorry to hear about your ewe, and I am glad she is going better.
Here are a few links I have bookmarked that are my go-to when we have something sick or acting out of sorts.
Merck Vet Manual is available online here: http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/index.html
Poisonous Range Plants of Temperate North America (most have pictures): http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/tox...ants_of_temperate_north_america.html#v3354922
Poisonous Houseplants and Ornamentals: http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/tox...s_to_animals/houseplants_and_ornamentals.html
For our friends down under, poisonous plants in Australia: http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/tox.../important_poisonous_plants_of_australia.html
A quick reference for sheep diseases: http://sheep101.info/201/diseasesa-z.html
I like to look at this one first to get an idea of what ailment we may be dealing with, and then look them up on the Merck Vet Manual for more detailed information to narrow it down based on other symptoms, etc.
I hope your ewe continues to improve. Are you in the Scrapie program?
Here are a few links I have bookmarked that are my go-to when we have something sick or acting out of sorts.
Merck Vet Manual is available online here: http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/index.html
Poisonous Range Plants of Temperate North America (most have pictures): http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/tox...ants_of_temperate_north_america.html#v3354922
Poisonous Houseplants and Ornamentals: http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/tox...s_to_animals/houseplants_and_ornamentals.html
For our friends down under, poisonous plants in Australia: http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/tox.../important_poisonous_plants_of_australia.html
A quick reference for sheep diseases: http://sheep101.info/201/diseasesa-z.html
I like to look at this one first to get an idea of what ailment we may be dealing with, and then look them up on the Merck Vet Manual for more detailed information to narrow it down based on other symptoms, etc.
I hope your ewe continues to improve. Are you in the Scrapie program?
- Feb 9, 2013
- 9
- 0
- 7
donkey started chasing and kicking sheep....had to put them in upper pasture (7 strand electric fence)......next day they were gone!!!! need help, ideas about fencing.....I thought about putting poultry wire on electric fence to give the next sheep a physical barrier and also let my chickens free range without hopping through the wires...kill 2 birds with 1 stone......ideas???????
They make an electric netting for sheep that is almost identical to poultry netting. I don't know about chicken wire against electric fencing though. Wouldn't that short?
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Hey kuntrygirl, sorry I took so long to get back to you, I've been really busy. I give more than the recommended dose of charcoal sometimes but it's not an issue as long as you're not literally clogging up the animal with it like a sock full of dirt! Not that you really could... It can't kill them otherwise.
Quote: Please remember this: a woman came across a lamb recently that had gotten into something severe and it was laying down, flat on its side, twitching, foaming at the mouth. She filled its guts with charcoal water and it was absolutely fine in short order. I was shocked. Personally I would have thought that a goner, never mind a sheep that's just relaxing! Never give up!
Glad my post was useful to you. I have used charcoal as sole treatment for many things and as a partial treatment for others, from everything from blocked gut to bone infection to of course toxicity to gas, across many species. I even have it myself sometimes, it's one of the best detoxes you can gently administer. It saves many, many lives. In hospital in some places if someone comes in OD'ing on any of various drugs, guess how they treat it... A gutful of charcoal! Activated carbon, or just plain good quality charcoal left over from a non-treated wood fire, it works. I leave tiny chips of charcoal in the coop at all times and now I wonder how many illnesses I have not seen that were in fact present... I do know they eat it though.
Great to hear she's doing better.
Quote: Please remember this: a woman came across a lamb recently that had gotten into something severe and it was laying down, flat on its side, twitching, foaming at the mouth. She filled its guts with charcoal water and it was absolutely fine in short order. I was shocked. Personally I would have thought that a goner, never mind a sheep that's just relaxing! Never give up!
Glad my post was useful to you. I have used charcoal as sole treatment for many things and as a partial treatment for others, from everything from blocked gut to bone infection to of course toxicity to gas, across many species. I even have it myself sometimes, it's one of the best detoxes you can gently administer. It saves many, many lives. In hospital in some places if someone comes in OD'ing on any of various drugs, guess how they treat it... A gutful of charcoal! Activated carbon, or just plain good quality charcoal left over from a non-treated wood fire, it works. I leave tiny chips of charcoal in the coop at all times and now I wonder how many illnesses I have not seen that were in fact present... I do know they eat it though.
Great to hear she's doing better.
- Feb 9, 2013
- 9
- 0
- 7
netting would be on opposite side of electric wire.....wouldn't be touching wire just back side of T post
The prions originate in the brains. Everyone has prions. Everyone's own personal prions are benign to themselves but act like a virus in others. The cannibals of Paupau New Guinea, in specific the males (because women are not allowed to eat the brains) eat the brains of their enemy and doom themselves to Jacob-Croitzfield disease (human scrapie) by the time they are 40. I don't know if they have managed to convince the people not to eat the brains of their enemies in these last 20 years but the information I had on them is about 20 years old and none of the men were living past 40.
Do not eat brains of any species. The Mad Cow Disease was caused because some idiot wanted cheap food to feed cattle and decided to use ground up sheep parts mixed with enough grain and molasses to fool the cows into eating like an omnivore. The scrapie was spread to the cattle in England because of this.
Do not eat brains of any species. The Mad Cow Disease was caused because some idiot wanted cheap food to feed cattle and decided to use ground up sheep parts mixed with enough grain and molasses to fool the cows into eating like an omnivore. The scrapie was spread to the cattle in England because of this.
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