Comparison of calculation methods used for the determination of anthelmintic resistance in sheep in a temperate continental climate.

This study compared results obtained with five different fecal egg count reduction (FECR) calculation methods for defining resistance to ivermectin, fenbendazole, and levamisole in gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep in a temperate continental climate: FECR1 and FECR2 used pre-and posttreatment fecal egg count (FEC) means from both treated and control animals, but FECR1 used arithmetic means, whereas FECR2 used geometric means; FECR3 used arithmetic means for pre- and posttreatment FECs from treated animals only; FECR4 was calculated using only arithmetic means for posttreatment FECs from treated and control animals; and FECR5 was calculated using mean FEC estimates from a general linear mixed model. The classification of farm anthelmintic resistance (AR) status varied, depending on which FECR calculation method was used and whether a bias correction term (BCT, i.e., half the minimum detection limit) was added to the zeroes or not. Overall, agreement between all methods was higher when a BCT was used, particularly when levels of resistance were low. FECR4 showed the highest agreement with all the other FECR methods. We therefore recommend that small ruminant clinicians use the FECR4 formula with a BCT for AR determination, as this would reduce the cost of the FECRT, while still minimizing bias and allowing for comparisons between different farms. For researchers, we recommend the use of FECR1 or FECR2, as the inclusion of both pre- and posttreatment FECs and use of randomly allocated animals in treatment and control groups makes these methods mathematically more likely to estimate the true anthelmintic efficacy.

Comparison of calculation methods used for the determination of anthelmintic resistance in sheep in a temperate continental climate.

This study compared results obtained with five different fecal egg count reduction (FECR) calculation methods for defining resistance to ivermectin, fenbendazole, and levamisole in gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep in a temperate continental climate: FECR1 and FECR2 used pre- and posttreatment fecal egg count (FEC) means from both treated and control animals, but FECR1 used arithmetic means, whereas FECR2 used geometric means; FECR3 used arithmetic means for pre- and posttreatment FECs from treated animals only; FECR4 was calculated using only arithmetic means for posttreatment FECs from treated and control animals; and FECR5 was calculated using mean FEC estimates from a general linear mixed model. The classification of farm anthelmintic resistance (AR) status varied, depending on which FECR calculation method was used and whether a bias correction term (BCT, i.e., half the minimum detection limit) was added to the zeroes or not. Overall, agreement between all methods was higher when a BCT was used, particularly when levels of resistance were low. FECR4 showed the highest agreement with all the other FECR methods. We therefore recommend that small ruminant clinicians use the FECR4 formula with a BCT for AR determination, as this would reduce the cost of the FECRT, while still minimizing bias and allowing for comparisons between different farms. For researchers, we recommend the use of FECR1 or FECR2, as the inclusion of both pre- and posttreatment FECs and use of randomly allocated animals in treatment and control groups makes these methods mathematically more likely to estimate the true anthelmintic efficacy.

Sex chromosome chimerism and the freemartin syndrome in Rideau Arcott sheep.

In cattle, nearly all heifers born co-twin to a male are freemartins, XX/XY chimeras that exhibit a characteristic masculinized phenotype. However, in sheep, while litters containing males and females are common, freemartins are relatively rare. The primary aim of this study was to determine the frequency and features of XX/XY chimerism in female Rideau Arcott sheep. Also, breeding records were used to investigate the effect of litter size and sex ratios, as well as the genetic basis of the condition. Finally, the migration and transcriptional competence of cells of the opposite sex in the XX/XY female and male chimeras was explored. Genomic DNA (gDNA) from peripheral blood cells of ewes was screened by PCR for the male-specific SRY gene. Of 230 lambs screened, 10 were identified as chimeras. Litter size and sex ratio showed no statistically significant effect on the frequency of chimerism. PCR and FISH analysis confirmed the presence of opposite sex cells in female and male chimeras, and in the case of ewes, their migration to tissues other than blood. Transcriptional activity of SRY and AMH was detected in gonads of ewes, whereas XIST expression was detected in white blood cells of chimeric rams. It was concluded that the frequency of sex chromosome chimerism in Rideau Arcott sheep is estimated at 4.35%, with no significant effect of litter size and sex ratio. Moreover, as it was shown that opposite sex cells can migrate to tissues other than blood and be transcriptionally active in chimeric sheep, we speculate on the role they can play in these animals.

Performance of a whole blood interferon-gamma assay for detection and eradication of caseous lymphadenitis in sheep.

Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA), a chronic bacterial disease of sheep and goats caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, could be controlled by eradication of infected carriers. This study aimed at validation of a whole blood interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (Bovigam, Pfizer) in naturally infected sheep for use in eradication of infection from a flock. This assay used formalin-inactivated whole bacterial cells as antigen. The sensitivity of the whole cell assay was improved by increasing both the volume of blood and the number of bacterial cells. The assay was validated in experimentally infected sheep and in a flock of known-negative sheep, as well as in a naturally infected flock, a proportion of which was vaccinated with a commercial CLA vaccine. An optical density (540nm) (OD) cut-off of 0.09 was effective in classifying animals as test positive or negative in the naturally infected flock, although there was variation in OD between visits, notably with weakly reacting animals. The test had a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 98%. Postmortem data supported the results in test-negative animals. Visit-to-visit variation in IFN-gamma EIA OD in the naturally infected flock as well as CLA disease status was used to develop an algorithm for the eradication of CLA from a known infected flock. The whole blood IFN-gamma assay shows promise for eradication of caseous lymphadenitis from sheep flocks.

Efficacy of closantel against ivermectin- and fenbendazole-resistant Haemonchus sp. in sheep in Ontario, Canada.

In Ontario, Canada, widespread resistance to ivermectin and fenbendazole, the only readily available ovine anthelmintics, has been documented, primarily in Haemonchus sp. In other parts of the world, closantel has been used to control such infections; however, the drug was not currently licensed for use in Canada and the USA. A randomized controlled trial was conducted on six client-owned farms in Ontario in 2013 and 2014 to determine the efficacy of closantel (Flukiver® 5% Oral Suspension, Elanco Animal Health, 10mg/kg bodyweight) against ivermectin- and fenbendazole-resistant Haemonchus sp. infections in periparturient ewes and grazing lambs. Three farms were randomly assigned to treat all ewes, and three farms were randomly assigned to selectively treat individual ewes at lambing, using predetermined criteria. Fecal samples were collected from a minimum of 15 randomly selected ewes and 13 lambs per group on each farm at the time of treatment and approximately 14days later. Trichostrongyle-type fecal egg counts (FEC) were performed using a modified McMaster technique with a lower detection limit of 8.3 eggs per gram of feces (epg). Haemonchus-specific FECs were determined by multiplying FECs by the proportion of Haemonchus sp. identified from coproculture for each farm; Haemonchus-specific FEC reductions were calculated for each farm. Twenty grazing lambs had FECs conducted monthly, and when mean monthly FECs surpassed 200 epg, all lambs were randomly allocated to either closantel, positive control (ivermectin, fenbendazole, or levamisole) or negative control groups. Pre-treatment Haemonchus-specific mean FECs ranged from 27 to 3359 epg in ewes and 0-5698 epg in lambs. Efficacy of closantel against Haemonchus sp. ranged from 99% (95% CI: 97%-99%) to 100% in recently lambed ewes on all farms in both years (total n=274 ewes), and from 99% (95% CI: 98%-99%) to 100% in grazing lambs in both years on all but one farm (total n=171 lambs). On the latter farm, a whole flock treated farm, closantel efficacy in grazing lambs was 84% (95%CI: 81%-88%) in the first year, but 100% in the second year. Levamisole was effective against overall GIN in lambs on only two farms. Ivermectin and fenbendazole resistance continued to be present, particularly in Haemonchus sp. Closantel had excellent efficacy against Haemonchus sp. over the two year study period, regardless of treatment group, and therefore should be considered one viable component of sustainable integrated parasite control programs for farms with documented anthelmintic resistance and problems with haemonchosis.

Identification of effective treatment criteria for use in targeted selective treatment programs to control haemonchosis in periparturient ewes in Ontario, Canada.

Haemonchosis is often associated with late gestation and parturition in ewes in Canada. Due to widespread concerns about development of anthelmintic resistance (AR), targeted selective treatment (TST), where individual animals are treated with an anthelmintic rather than the entire flock, is a possible strategy to control clinical signs in recently lambed ewes while still maintaining parasite refugia. Performing fecal egg counts (FEC) on individual animals is often cost-prohibitive, so indicators that identify ewes with high FEC are essential for TST programs. The study objectives were to: a) evaluate the ability of four TST indicators to identify periparturient ewes with high Haemonchus sp. FEC and b) determine appropriate treatment thresholds for statistically-significant indicators. A field study was conducted during the 2013 and 2014 lambing seasons (February-May) on three client-owned farms in Ontario with documented AR and problems with haemonchosis in ewes. Ewes were examined within three days of lambing and selected for treatment with oral closantel (10mg/kg body weight), a novel anthelmintic to Canada, if they met at least one of four criteria: a) the last grazing season was their first grazing season; b) body condition score ≤2; c) Faffa Malan Chart (FAMACHA©) score ≥3; and/or d) three or more nursing lambs. Fecal samples were collected per rectum on the treatment day from each of 20 randomly selected treated and untreated ewes on each farm. Haemonchus sp. percentages on each farm, as determined by coproculture, ranged from 53% to 92% of total fecal trichostrongyle-type egg counts. Mean Haemonchus sp. FECs were significantly higher in treated ewes (n=136) than in untreated ewes (n=103) on the day of treatment in both years (p=0.001), suggesting the indicators were suitable for identifying animals with high Haemonchus sp. FEC. A linear mixed model was fit with logarithmic-transformed Haemonchus sp. FEC as the outcome variable, the four indicators and year as fixed effects, and farm as a random effect. FAMACHA© score was the sole indicator to remain significantly associated with FEC (p=0.002). A receiver-operator curve determined that test sensitivity was maximized (92.4%) with FAMACHA© score ≥3 as the sole indicator. FAMACHA© score should therefore be included in TST programs to identify ewes requiring treatment at lambing due to Haemonchus sp.

Coxiella burnetii seropositivity and associated risk factors in sheep in Ontario, Canada.

Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotic bacterium that can cause abortion in sheep in late gestation, as well as the delivery of stillborn, and non-viable lambs (Rodolakis, 2006). A cross-sectional study was conducted in Ontario, Canada, to investigate C. burnetii exposure in sheep. Between August 2010 and January 2012, sera from 2363 reproductively active ewes from 72 farms were tested for C. burnetii specific antibodies using the CHEKIT Q fever ELISA Test kit (IDEXX Laboratories). Overall, exposure was common; sheep-level seroprevalence was 14.7% (347/2363, 95% CI: 13.3-16.2), and was higher in dairy sheep (24.3%, 181/744) than meat sheep (10.2%, 166/1619) (p<0.0001). At the farm-level, 48.6% (35/72, 95% CI: 37.2-60.1) of farms had at least one seropositive sheep. A mixed multivariable logistic model that controlled for farm-level clustering, identified risk factors associated (p<0.05) with sheep seropositivity. Increasing female flock size (logarithmic scale) was associated with increased odds of seropositivity. By way of illustration, increasing the female flock size from 100 to 200 increased the odds of seropositivity by 2.26 times (95% CI: 1.5-3.5). Sheep that lambed in an airspace separate from the flock had 11.3 times (95% CI: 2.9-43.6) the odds of seropositivity relative to other sheep. The practice of loaning sheep that returned to the farm increased odds of seropositivity by 8.1 times (95% CI: 1.8-33.6). Lambing pen hygiene practices also influenced odds of seropositivity. Relative to sheep from farms where all lambing pen hygiene measures were practiced after lambing (i.e., adding bedding, removing birth materials and disinfection), sheep from farms that only added bedding, or those that just added bedding and removed birthing materials had 5.9 times (95% CI: 1.1-32.1) and 9.0 times (95% CI: 2.2-36.9) the odds of seropositivity, respectively. These results can be used to inform prevention and control strategies with the aim of reducing C. burnetii exposure in sheep.

Coxiella burnetii seropositivity and associated risk factors in goats in Ontario, Canada.

Coxiella burnetii is a zoonotic bacterium, and infection in goats with this bacterium can result in abortion, stillbirth or birth of non-viable kids. A cross-sectional study was conducted to identify the seroprevalence and risk factors for C. burnetii exposure in Ontario goats. Sera were collected between August 2010 and February 2012, and tested for C. burnetii specific antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IDEXX). Overall, 63.2% (48/76, 95% CI=51.9-73.4) of farms had one or more seropositive goats. A higher farm-level seroprevalence of 78.6% (33/42) was found on dairy goat farms, compared to 44.1% (15/34) on meat goat farms (p<0.01). At the overall individual-animal level, 32.5% (714/2195, 95% CI=30.6-34.5) of goats were seropositive. Similarly, a higher individual-level seroprevalence was identified for dairy goats (43.7%, 633/1447) compared to meat goats (10.8%, 81/748) (p<0.001). A mixed multivariable logistic model that controlled for farm-level clustering identified risk factors associated with seropositivity (p<0.05). Increases in the female herd size (logarithmic scale) were associated with increased odds of seropositivity, while increases in male herd size had a negative association with seropositivity. If other sheep or goat farms were located in a 5-km radius, goats had 5.6 times (95% CI=1.01-30.8) times the odds of seropositivity compared to those that were not. Relative to goats from farms where all kidding pen hygiene was practiced (adding bedding, removing birth materials and disinfection after kidding), goats from farms which only added bedding and removed birth materials had a higher odds of seropositivity (OR=19.3, 95% CI=1.1-330.4), as did goats from farms which practiced none of these measures (OR=161.0, 95% CI=2.4-10822.2). An interaction term revealed kidding outdoors when there were no swine on farm had a protective effect on seropositivity compared to kidding indoors, or kidding outdoors with swine on the farm. These results can inform strategies to mitigate exposure to C. burnetii in Ontario.

An interferon-gamma assay for diagnosis of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in adult sheep from a research flock.

The optimal method of control of caseous lymphadenitis of sheep caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is eradication of infection by identification and removal of infected carrier animals. Current serological approaches to identification of infected sheep are generally hampered by low sensitivity and specificity of available tests. The objective of this study was to develop a whole blood assay for detection of C. pseudotuberculosis-infected sheep, based on detection of IFN-gamma response to whole cell C. pseudotuberculosis antigens, and to determine the reliability of the assay. A commercially available bovine interferon-gamma assay enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used and the test optimised using experimentally infected sheep. The assay was also tested on known CLA-negative sheep. Setting a IFN-gamma optical density cut-off at 0.100 as positive under the conditions used, the test detected C. pseudotuberculosis experimentally infected sheep over a 450-day period with a reliability of 95.7%. It identified known non-infected sheep with a reliability of 95.5%. Repeated vaccination of three uninfected sheep with a commercially available bacterin-toxoid vaccine did not interfere with the assay. The IFN-gamma response of sheep whole blood to C. pseudotuberculosis antigens offers promise for use in a test-and-removal approach to eradication of CLA in sheep.

Comparison of an interferon-gamma to a phospholipase D enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in experimentally infected goats.

The optimal method of control of caseous lymphadenitis of goats caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is eradication of infection by identification and removal of infected carrier animals. The objective of this study was to compare detection of C. pseudotuberculosis experimentally infected goats using a commercially available bovine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) whole blood enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to serological response to a recombinant phospholipase D (PLD) ELISA. The tests were assessed repeatedly over 1 year in three infected and three non-infected goats. Using a IFN-gamma optical density cut-off at 0.10 as positive under the conditions used, the test accurately detected C. pseudotuberculosis experimentally infected goats over a 363 day period with a reliability of 89.2% and non-infected goats with a reliability of 97.1%. Using a cut-off value of the mean for negative samples plus two standard deviations, the PLD ELISA detected C. pseudotuberculosis experimentally infected goats over this period with a reliability of 81.0% and non-infected goats with a reliability of 97.0%. The PLD ELISA was however more predictive than the IFN-gamma ELISA of the presence of lesions observed at postmortem examination of infected goats.

Analysis of the immunodominant antigens of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis.

Antibodies to seven antigens in a whole cell lysate of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis ranging in molecular mass from 22 to 120 kilodaltons (kDa) were present in sera of 40 sheep and goats infected with C. pseudotuberculosis. Three antigens of about 120, 68, and 31.5 kDa in size were consistently detected with sera from all animals and twenty-two sera had antibodies to 64, 43, 40, and 22 kDa antigens. None of these antigens were detected by sera from 160 sheep in a C. pseudotuberculosis-free research flock. An NaCl extract of C. pseudotuberculosis cells contained one major protein of about 31.5 kDa and four minor proteins of 68, 64, 43, and 22 kDa in molecular mass as shown by Coomassie Blue staining. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that the three immunodominant antigens identified in the whole cell extract were contained in the NaCl extract. The 31.5-kDa protein was purified from the NaCl extract by fast-protein liquid chromatography gel filtration to near homogeneity. The purified 31.5-kDa protein showed phospholipase D activity as indicated by synergistic hemolysis with Rhodococcus equi factors and sphingomyelinase activity. The 31.5-kDa protein reacted with antibodies in serum from a sheep naturally infected with C. pseudotuberculosis. This serum also had phospholipase D neutralizing activity. On the basis of its molecular mass, biological activity, N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis, and immunoreactivity, the 31.5-kDa protein was identified as the phospholipase D exotoxin of C. pseudotuberculosis.

The use of a microagglutination assay for the detection of antibodies to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in naturally infected sheep and goat flocks.

Two goat flocks comprising 326 animals and four sheep flocks comprising 343 animals, all with a previously recognized problem of abscesses due to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, were examined for the presence of abscesses and antibody titers to C. pseudotuberculosis as detected by direct microagglutination assay. In sheep there was a strong positive relationship between age and titer (p less than 0.0001). However, the relationship in goats between age and titer could not be determined due to a strong interaction between flock and age. When the relationship between abscesses and titer was examined, it was found that goats with abscesses had higher titers than those that did not (p less than 0.05), whereas there was no difference in titer between sheep with abscesses and those without (p = 0.5753). The sensitivity of the microagglutination test was poor to good for both species (52.3% for goats and 89.7% for sheep). The specificity of the test was fair to poor (64.9% for goats and 21.7% for sheep). Given a disease prevalence of 13.5% for goats and 8.5% for sheep the predictive value of the positive test was very poor (18.9% for goats and 9.6% for sheep) but the predictive value of the negative test was good to excellent (89.7% for goats and 95.8% for sheep). The poor specificity of the test and therefore the positive predictive value may be due in part to the criterion of classification of presence of disease, i.e. presence of an abscess at the time of sampling.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The seroprevalence of coxiellosis (Q fever) in Ontario sheep flocks.

A serological survey for Coxiella burnetii was undertaken on a randomly selected population of 103 Ontario sheep flocks. Twenty-two flocks had at least one positive ewe; seven flocks had two or more reactors. The positive flocks were geographically clustered northwest of Guelph. Crutch-clipping of the ewe's wool prior to lambing, and total confinement housing at lambing in winter and spring seemed to lower the probability of seroreactivity of the flock (p less than 0.05). The study suggests that sheep are not a major reservoir for Coxiella burnetii in Ontario.

A field trial to evaluate a whole cell vaccine for the prevention of caseous lymphadenitis in sheep and goat flocks.

A field trial to evaluate a whole cell vaccine for the prevention of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) in sheep and goats was performed in one goat herd and one sheep flock over a period of three years. In goats, there was a nonstatistically significant trend for fewer cases of CLA in the vaccinated animals compared to the controls. In sheep, from six months to 36 months postinitial vaccination, the proportion of vaccinated sheep that developed CLA was significantly less (p less than 0.05) than in the control sheep. The antibody titers to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis as detected by microagglutination assay were significantly different (p less than 0.0001) at all times except at the initial vaccination. Swellings occurred at the vaccination site at an incidence level of 29.6% in goats and 34.1% in sheep. The vaccine appeared to be efficacious in reducing the proportion of sheep that developed CLA when challenged naturally in a field situation.

The relationship between the occurrence of undifferentiated bovine respiratory disease and titer changes to bovine coronavirus and bovine viral diarrhea virus in 3 Ontario feedlots.

Serological evidence of previous viral exposure (titer at arrival) and current viral exposure (titer increase) during a 28-day study period, was used to determine if bovine coronavirus (BCV) or bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) was associated with the occurrence of undifferentiated bovine respiratory disease (UBRD) in feedlot calves. Neutralizing antibody titers to BCV and BVDV were determined for 852 animals from 3 Ontario feedlots. Calves at 2 of the 3 feedlots (n = 753) received a modified live 4-way viral vaccine containing BVDV. On arrival at the feedlots, 90% of animals were seropositive for BCV, while 39% of animals were seropositive for BVDV. This evidence of previous exposure to both viruses was associated with reduced subsequent UBRD risk. Evidence of exposure to BCV during the study period was common, as 50% of animals showed a 16-fold or greater titer increase; however, treatment for UBRD was not associated with titer change. Although the majority of animals were vaccinated for BVDV at arrival, within a feedlot, animals treated for UBRD had larger titer increases to BVDV than non-treated animals. Based on our findings we infer that BCV was not causally related to UBRD occurrence, however consistent with other literature, BVDV may be causally related to UBRD occurrence.

The relationship between the occurrence of undifferentiated bovine respiratory disease and titer changes to Haemophilus somnus and Mannheimia haemolytica at 3 Ontario feedlots.

The association between exposure to Haemophilus somnus and Mannheimia haemolytica (formerly Pasteurella haemolytica) and the risk of undifferentiated bovine respiratory disease (UBRD) was investigated using serological evidence of exposure coupled with a factorial design vaccine field trial. Measures of previous exposure (titer at arrival) and current exposure (titer increase in the study period) to these agents were used. The vaccine field trial involved systematic allocation of animals into groups that received either a M. haemolytica vaccine, an H. somnus vaccine, a combined M. haemolytica and H. somnus vaccine, and an unvaccinated control group. Serum was collected from the 852 animals enrolled to determine titers to H. somnus, M. haemolytica, bovine coronavirus and bovine viral diarrhea virus. Vaccination with H. somnus in combination with M. haemolytica and with M. haemolytica alone reduced the risk of UBRD. The odds ratio for vaccination with H. somnus alone and UBRD risk suggested some sparing effect, but the 95% confidence limits included unity. There was no association between serological evidence of concurrent exposure to M. haemolytica and UBRD occurrence. There was an association between titer change to H. somnus and UBRD risk. However, the association changed with time of BRD treatment; animals diagnosed and treated for UBRD on or after day 10 showed little evidence of exposure to H. somnus, despite evidence of natural H. somnus exposure in the unvaccinated group. The association between titer change to H. somnus and UBRD occurrence seen in this study may be a consequence of prolonged exposure to antibiotics, rather than a causal association.

Naturally occurring lesions of the uterine tube in sheep and serologic evidence of exposure to Chlamydophila abortus.

The uterine tubes from 405 ewes, collected at an abattoir, were assessed grossly and microscopically for abnormalities that correlated with serological evidence of exposure to Chlamydophila abortus. Gross lesions were found in 41 ewes and 86 had microscopic lesions. Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) of serum was used as an indication of exposure of individual ewes to C. abortus; 52 were found to be positive. Chi-squared analysis indicated no association between EIA-positive animals and lesions of the uterine tube.

Border disease in a flock of sheep: epidemiologic, laboratory, and clinical findings.

A flock of sheep in which border disease (BD) was enzootic was studied through a breeding season. At the beginning of the study (August 1981), 125 (82%) of 152 ewes were seropositive to the cross-reacting bovine viral diarrhea virus. Within 7 months, 3 (18%) of 17 seropositive ewes retested had reverted to seronegative. Of the remaining 21 ewes identified as seronegative, 7 (33%) converted to seropositive by the end of the study. Triplet lambs were born, 2 of which exhibited clinical signs of BD. The virus was isolated from blood lymphocytes from both of the affected lambs. The most severely affected lamb shed virus into the urine, saliva, and feces through 10 weeks of age. Lymphocyte stimulation tests indicated that the lymphocytes from the affected lambs had decreased function in months 4 through 7, but returned to normal function by the eighth month. Transmission of BD virus was investigated by exposing 5 seronegative ewes to the BD-infected lambs. Two of the contact ewes developed viremia and 3 converted to seropositive within the 13-week exposure period. Evidence from this and other studies supports a model of BD in gravid, nongravid, and persistently infected adult sheep.

Mastitis of sheep and goats.

This article presents an overview of the recent research into ovine and caprine mastitis. The common clinical presentations of mastitis in these species are reviewed, as are the important etiologic agents and their significance. The interpretation of somatic cell counts and surrogate tests, factors that affect somatic cell count levels, and association of somatic cell count levels with productivity are reviewed. Investigations into the treatment and prevention of mastitis and milking equipment function are discussed, and comments are made on the public health implications of extra label drug use and the consumption of unpasteurized milk.

The Dairy Herd Management System. Application to dairy herd reproductive management as a bureau and on-farm system.

This article describes the field use of the Dairy Herd Management System Microcomputer software. The practical experiences gained from the use of the program in dairy reproductive management are discussed for operation both as a bureau service and as an on-farm system.