Veterinary Services

• Seasonal increase in outbreaks of bovine respiratory disease
• 21 outbreaks of chronic fasciolosis diagnosed in sheep compared to only three outbreaks in December 2006. Only one outbreak of acute fasciolosis recorded.
• Evidence of an upward trend in the diagnosis of louping ill in Scottish flocks over the last 15 years
• Eight percent of twin-bearing ewes in an early lambing flock abort and die in an outbreak of salmonellosis due to Salmonella Derby infection.
• Acute fasciolosis diagnosed in an 18-month-old alpaca
• Pneumonic aspergillosis diagnosed as cause of death of six Bewick’s swans (Cygnus columbianus) in East Lothian.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Mean temperatures and rainfall were close to the long-term average for the month. However temperatures were below average in parts of eastern Scotland where it was the coldest December since 2001. On 28th December the Scottish Government announced bluetongue virus was found in one of 35 dairy cattle first imported from a farm in Bremen to a dairy farm near Kirkcudbright. As the animal was imported it did not affect Scotland's "free area" status. Movement restrictions were placed on the affected premises. Subsequently the Rural Affairs Secretary called for an urgent review of export controls on bluetongue susceptible animals to prevent the virus spreading. The Scottish Government paid producers £6 per breeding ewe as part of a package of measures to help the Scottish livestock industry recover from the severe crisis resulting from the foot and mouth outbreak in England.