Sudden death in lambs associated with Clostridium sordellii infection.

摘要

Findings from a 3 year study of a series of sudden deaths in lambs aged from a few weeks to several months old are reported. Losses were sporadic in some flocks but up to 8% in others. Frequently either ewes or the lambs had been vaccinated againstclostridial disease. The most serious losses were seen in lambs offered ad libitum creep feed from an early age. Lambs were usually found dead but some were seen to be bloated, dull and not sucking before death. PM examination showed distension of the abdomen, pale mucous membranes, signs of toxaemia and an oedematous, emphysematous displaced abomasum. Clostridium species were identified in direct smears taken from abomasal folds; the smears were negative for C. septicum, C. chauvoei and C. novyi usingfluorescent antibody tests. Cultures of lesions yielded growths of C. sordellii sometimes pure but sometimes with other anaerobes. Histopathology showed mainly autolytic changes but in some cases had small foci of necrosis in the abomasal mucosa with clostridial-like organisms in the lesions and gas pockets in the submucosa. This appears to be the first report of C. sordellii infection in lambs associated with abomasal lesions.