Veterinary Services

Aberdeen diagnosed hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia in a four-year-old blackface ewe. The ewe was part of a flock that was purchased and relocated from rough hill ground to lower lying, lush pasture five days previously. Vitreous humor calcium and magnesium were found to be 0.3 mmol/l and 0.47 mmol/l respectively (reference range >1.0 mmol/l for both minerals). Another ewe found collapsed shortly after the two hour relocation journey, responded to treatment for hypocalcaemia.

Parasitic diseases

Perth diagnosed severe hepatogenous (type III) photosensitization secondary to Dicrocoelium dendriticum infection in two Scottish blackface hoggs from the Isle of Coll in the Inner Hebrides.  These animals represented a larger group that were ill-thriven with clinical signs of photosensitization. Necropsy revealed slight jaundice of the carcases and in each case the liver was extensively fibrosed with huge numbers of small lanceolate fluke within the biliary system and the gall bladder (Figure 4 - see top right-hand side). Blood samples taken from other affected hoggs confirmed liver damage and loss of hepatic function, further supporting the diagnosis. Dicrocoelium dendriticum is a highly unusual species with a complex life cycle involving intermediate stages in snails and ants.  It is believed to be restricted in range to the Western Isles of Scotland.  Control of the infection presents a particular challenge since it is not susceptible to treatments commonly used in the control of Fasciola hepatica.  The lambs in this flock have now been treated with albendazole and further monitoring of faecal eggs counts will be used to assess the success of this therapy.

Generalised and systemic conditions

Ayr diagnosed enterotoxaemia due to Clostridium perfringens type D (pulpy kidney disease) in two, four-month-old lambs submitted with a history of scouring and, in one case, nervous signs.  Epsilon clostridial toxin was demonstrated in bowel filtrate of both lambs however both animals also had evidence of enteritis associated with large numbers of coccidial oocysts and Nematodirus battus adults and larvae. SACCVS concluded that parasitic damage to the intestinal mucosa had facilitated absorption of clostridial toxin.

Pulpy kidney disease was also suspected by Aberdeen to be the cause of death of a 12-year-old female Anglo-Nubian goat. The animal was in very good body condition and had died relatively suddenly after being moved field four days previously. No clostridial vaccines had been administered. Both alpha and epsilon clostridial toxins were detected in the small intestinal contents and glucose was present in the urine. The neuropathological changes were mild but a toxic cause could not be ruled out.

St. Boswells diagnosed tick pyaemia in an eight-week-old lamb from a hill farm in the Scottish Borders. A haemolytic Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in pure growth from multiple sites and this, along with a history of ticks on the farm, were considered diagnostic for the condition. Smears for the presence of Anaplasma phagocytophila were negative, however SACCVS is frequently unable to demonstrate A. phagocytophila at the time of clinical disease.

Respiratory tract conditions

Dumfries diagnosed lymphosarcoma in a four-year-old Texel ewe that was found dead. At necropsy a right sided haemothorax was found with a generalised lymphadenopathy and white spots noted on the kidneys, liver and pleura.  A 10 x 5 cm white mass was found anterior to the heart and histopathology of this tissue confirmed a diagnosis of lymphosarcoma. 

St Boswells diagnosed pneumonia and endocarditis due to Streptococcus gallolyticus ssp gallolyticus (formerly Strep bovis) in a twelve-week-old lamb.  At necropsy, consolidation was present throughout both lung fields and a vegetative endocarditis was affecting the left atrio-ventricular valve. A pure growth of the organism was obtained from the lungs, heart valve and other tissues. SACCVS recognise that this organism can be a cause of vegetative endocarditis.

Nervous system disorders

Aberdeen confirmed louping ill as the cause of lateral recumbency and paddling in a Welsh mountain ewe hogg. Four of a group of 250 had died in the previous two weeks. Louping ill serology revealed a total immunoglobulin level of 1/640 of which IgG was only 1/160. The predominance of IgM was consistent with recent infection with louping ill virus. The affected group had grazed in a known tick area six weeks previously and had been treated with a pour-on cypermethrin product stated to provide protection against ticks for 8-12 weeks. 
 

Dumfries diagnosed bacterial meningitis in a Scottish blackface ewe described as being extremely dull and reluctant to move before death.  Necropsy findings included pale wedge shaped lesions in the kidneys and a toe granuloma. SACCVS suggested that bacterial seeding from the granuloma could have been the source of the apparent bacteraemia. 

Renal diseases

Dumfries diagnosed nephrosis in a 12–week-old cross lamb. The animal was emaciated, weighing only 10kg, and was one of a group of ill-thriven lambs.  The kidneys were enlarged and pale with dilated pelvises (Figure 5 - see  top right-hand side) and estimation of aqueous humor urea was 98.1mmol/l. In addition there was evidence of parasitic gastroenteritis and 580,000 coccidial oocysts/g were detected in the faeces, of which 61% were identified as the pathogenic species Eimeria crandallis.  SACCVS considered that either the worm or coccidial burdens could have predisposed to the