A FIVE-YEAR SURVEY (2002–2007) ON OVINE PULMONARY ADENOMATOSIS IN A MIXED-BREED SHEEP FLOCK

摘要

This study was conducted to identify and eradicate ovine pulmonary adenomatosis (OPA) in a sheep flock of different breeds in Iran. The animals included three imported types of Merinos, Chios, and Suffolk and two native types of Mogani and Shal. The adult sheep were monthly examined to find the suspected cases. For final diagnosis, the affected lungs were sent to pathological laboratory to con- firm the diseases. By selecting and slaughtering the clinically positive cases, the disease occurrence was dramatically reduced during the 5 years of study and no positive case was diagnosed afterward. Out of 650 sheep examined during the five years, 132 (20.3%) were affected by OPA. There was a trend toward significant difference in susceptibility to OPA (P=0.058) between the sheep breeds. This study suggests that selecting and slaughtering positive cases of OPA are useful means for eradicating the diseases in sheep flocks.