Mas e Deg ee in Ve e ina y Medicine
PERINATAL LAMB MORTALITY IN LIMOUSIN REGION
Ma iana Sampaio Maciel Ba bosa
Supe iso
P o . Paulo Pegado Co ez, DVM, PhD
Co-supe iso
D . Pie e Au e , DVM, Dip. ECSRHM
Po o 2014
I
Abs ac
Backg ound and objec i es
This epo analyses he lamb mo ali y in 57 sheep a ms, wi h app oxima ely 22.614
adul ewes (Mean ± SD: he d size=355.8 ± 255.7 ewes), in Hau e-Vienne, a F ench depa men
o he Limousin egion, F ance. The lamb mo ali y a e in F ance was epo ed o be a ound
16% (Ins i u d’Éle age 2012).
The aim o his s udy was:
1) o de e mine he a e o pe ina al lamb mo ali y in Limosin egion
2) o iden i y he causes o lambs dea h and he ends and pa e ns o pe ina al lamb
mo ali y
3) o calcula e he economic losses ela ed o lamb mo ali y
Ma e ials and me hods
Ewe abo ion and lamb mo ali y we e obse ed and he e alua ion o causes o dea h
was s udied by a c oss-sec ional s udy on 57 he ds. The sample was selec ed using con enience
sampling. De ailed nec opsy and labo a o y analyses we e pe o med.
Resul s
The esul s o his s udy indica e ha i was no possible o iden i y he e hiologic agen in
mos o he he ds (59%). Due o he small posi i e agen sample size is impossible de ine he
leading abo ion causes.
The majo isk ac o s iden i ied o poo lamb su i al we e en e o oxaemia (25.5%),
sep icaemia (19.1%), colibacillosis (14.9%), coccidiosis (8.1%) and o he a ious causes
(31.9%).
The mo ali y was highe in lambs wi h 0-14 and 31-45 days old (36%) and he majo i y
o lambs (55%) died wi hou showing any clinical signs.
The e was an a e age mo ali y a e, including abo ions and lamb mo ali y, o 13.05%
which ep esen ed a o al loss o 116.706€/yea o he 57 sheep a ms.
Conclusion
The numbe o samples was insu icien o make any absolu e in e ence abou he leading
causes o ewe abo ions and lamb dea hs bu i was e iden in his s udy ha a me s a e no
awa e o he impo ance o p e en ing he leading diseases. This may be due o an absence o a
cos –bene i analysis.
Keywo ds: Abo ion, Economic assessmen , Ewe, Lamb, Lambing, Neona al mo ali y
II
Acknowledgemen s
To P o . Doc o Paulo Co ez, my supe iso , o his pa ience, encou agemen , his
i eless wo k and dayb eak mails answe ing my doub s and ea s. A ue supe iso !
I hank o he Clinic des Roche es eam, especially o D . Pie e Au e , my co-
supe iso , o he clinical p ac ice ha showed me. I hank o D . Ch is ian Dauphin o help
me o become au onomous in clinical p ac ice. To D . Ma ion Le Blond who, despi e he sho
ime we wo ked oge he , augh me a lo , o all he commen s we exchanged and especially o
being open mind and gi ing me au onomy. To M s. Ca oline Robichon o he good mood.
I would like o exp ess my since e g a i ude o my Teache s o ICBAS, o all he
challenges ha p esen ed me and o Teache s o Al onso X el Sabio Uni e si y o opening my
ho izons. I hank o P o . Doc o Alexand a Mülle by he s a is ical and epidemiological
suppo .
A huge hanks o my Pa en s by he educa ion hey ga e me. They ga e me all he
oppo uni ies o ge whe e I wan ed and augh me o hink by mysel . They a e he key o my
success!!!
To my sis e and my b o he s I hank hem e y much o all he smiles hey s ole me
and o ea ly encou age me o sha e. Thank you o being my main c i ics and suppo e s!!!
I would like o hank my g andpa en s o encou age me o con ac wi h Na u e and
always emembe me ha be o e a good p o essional mus be a good pe son.
To my uncles and cousins o lis ening o all my s o ies and encou age me o igh .
To D . Belmi a Pe ei a, my i s eache o Ve e ina y Medicine, my hanks o hei
us and sha ing o knowledge.
I ex end my g a i ude all my iends o be always p esen in my li e. Thank you o all my
iends who suppo ed me o en e college o Ve e ina y Medicine and o all who helped aking
he e e ina y deg ee and so o pu sue my d eam.
Special hanks go o Ca a ina Sá Bo ges and Tiago Mo a. To Ca a ina, I hank e y much
o all he hou s s udying oge he , he eme gency eam du ing he 5 h g ade, he ime we alked
join ly, bu especially h oughou he un in s udy and elax ime. To Tiago, by his eno mous
pa ience o pu ing up me h oughou ou in e nship.

III
To Alexand a Bo ges, Ana Gonçal es, Ana Ma ias, And eia Bá ba a, An ónio Fonseca,
Daniela And ade, Daniela Ben o, Daniela Sil a, Fá ima Mendes, Gonçalo Lixa, Inês Fe nandes,
Inês Mille , I one Gonçal es, Joana Soa es, Jo ge Quei oz, Julie Ma ins, La a Dua e, Leono
Madu ei a, Ma cos Medei os, Ma ga ida Caiado, Ma a Gomes, Nuno Ribei o, Raquel
Fe nandes, Regina Pe ei a, Sa a Pe es elo, Sa ah Lopes, Sónia Macedo and all o my E asmus
iends by momen s o s udy and mega dinne s. Wi hou hem, my cou se would ha e been much
mo e di icul . I keep g ea memo ies o each o he !
To Be na do A che , Ma a Sousa, Miguel San iago and Ve a Ba bosa: my supe eam o
ad ice and no es. I' e had g ea luck in ha ing mo e ad anced iends.
Finally, o my big pal Alphinha which I will ne e o ge and I will always emembe
wi h g ea a ec ion.
To ake a cou se is no he only esul o my e o :
i is my eam e o !
IV
To my Pa en s
V
“This is only his box. The sheep you asked o is inside."
in Li le P ince by Sain -Exupé y
- 2 -
1.2 Abo ion in sheep
A low le el o lamb losses om na u al, uncon ollable causes is ine i able (Duncanson
2012). While spo adic losses a e a iably a ibu ed o o e c owding, compe i ion du ing
eeding, handling p ocedu es o mo emen , an abo ion a e abo e 2% is sugges i e o an
in ec ious ae iology and labo a o y in es iga ion is s ongly ecommended. A s anda d se o
samples allows labo a o y iden i ica ion o he abo i acien agen (s) in mos si ua ions. Fa me s
mus isola e all suspec abo ed sheep and emo e all abo ed ma e ial (Sco 2007). Mos cases
o abo ion a e he 120 h day o p egnancy a e usually caused by in ec ious diseases (Sco
2007).
The iden i ica ion o an abo i e agen can be o en achie ed h ough g oss and his ological
e alua ions o oe al and placen al issues, ollowed by ou ine mic obiological analyses.
Howe e , wo e ospec i e s udies, consis ing in issue samples ob ained om sheep and goa
abo ions and sen o wo di e en diagnos ic labo a o ies in he Uni ed S a es, demons a ed ha
i was no possible o iden i y a cause in 56% o he o ine abo ions and 53% o he cap ine
abo ions (Ki kb ide 2012).
1.2.1 O ine chlamydiosis
O ine chlamydiosis, also known as enzoo ic abo ion o ewe o o ine enzoo ic abo ion,
is caused by he bac e ia Chlamydophila abo us. Typically Chlamydial abo ion occu s in he
las 2–3 weeks o p egnancy wi h he deli e y o s illbo n lambs and in lamed placen as.
In ec ion can, howe e , also esul in he deli e y o ull- e m s illbo n lambs o weak lambs ha
do no su i e longe han 48 hou s. The e a e a ely any p edic i e signs ha abo ion is going
o occu (OIE 2013).
Pas u e and he en i onmen a e con amina ed by aginal discha ges, placen a and
abo ed oe uses, and an in ec ed ewe can shed he o ganism o a week be o e abo ing and o 2
weeks a e wa ds (Rados i s e al. 2007).
In ec ion in abo ing animals can be s udied se ologically by ising i e s in pai ed se um
samples and by cul u e o he o ganisms. P ophylac ic measu es include accina ion and
isola ion o abo ing ewes (Rados i s e al. 2007).
Chlamydiosis o small uminan s is a zoonosis and he o ganism mus be handled wi h
biosa e y p ecau ions. P egnan women a e pa icula ly a isk (OIE 2013). The o ganism can be
de ec ed in sheep and ca le aw milk and, he e o e, also can pose a isk o zoono ic in ec ion
(Rados i s e al. 2007).

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1.2.2 Q e e
Que y (Q) e e (o Coxiellosis) is a zoonosis caused by Coxiella bu ne ii, a small G am-
nega i e bac e ia, which is e y esis an o physical and chemical agen s and can su i e in he
en i onmen and soil o se e al mon hs (Rados i s e al. 2007). This obliga e in acellula
bac e ia displays di e en mo phological o ms in i s de elopmen al cycle. Some o ms can
su i e in he en i onmen due o a small, dense and highly esis an spo e-like o m (Coleman
e al., 2004; Heinzen e al. 1999).
In domes ic uminan s, Q e e is mos ly associa ed wi h spo adic abo ions o ou b eaks o
abo ions and dead o weak o sp ing, ollowed usually by eco e y wi hou complica ions (OIE
2013).
In ec ion in abo ing animals can be s udied se ologically by luo escen an ibody s aining
and PCR. P ophylac ic measu es include accina ion and isola ion o abo ing ewe (Rados i s e
al. 2007).
C. bu ne ii is des oyed by pas eu iza ion bu he e is a isk i e.g. membe s o a a m amily
consume aw milk (Rados i s e al. 2007).
1.2.3 Salmonellosis
Salmonellosis is an in ec ious disease o humans and animals caused by o ganisms o wo
species o Salmonella (Salmonella en e ica, and S. bongo i). Al hough p ima ily in es inal, hese
od-shaped and G am-nega i e bac e ia a e widesp ead in he en i onmen and a e commonly
ound in a m e luen s, human sewage and in any ma e ial subjec o aecal con amina ion (OIE
2013). The o ganism pe sis s in in e nal o gans o he ca ie s o up o 6 mon hs and i is
exc e ed in he aeces and aginal mucus o pe iods up o 4 mon hs (Rados i s e al. 2007).
Young, p egnan and lac a ing animals a e he mos suscep ible. En e ic disease is he
commones clinical mani es a ion bu a wide ange o clinical signs, which include acu e
sep icaemia, abo ion, a h i is and espi a o y disease, may be seen (OIE 2013).
Iden i ica ion o he disease can be achie ed by he isola ion o he o ganism, which is
p esen in la ge numbe s in he oe us, placen a and u e ine discha ges, and he p esence o a
s ong posi i e agglu ina ion es in he ewe o 8-10 weeks a e abo ion (Rados i s e al 2007).
- 4 -
1.2.4 Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is a zoono ic in ec ion o animals caused by he p o ozoan pa asi e
Toxoplasma gondii. I may mani es i sel as a disease o p egnancy by mul iplying in he
placen a and oe us, esul ing in abo ion o in he bi h o weak lambs, which may be
accompanied by a mummi ied oe us. In hese cases, he placen al in e co yledona y memb anes
a e no mal bu whi e oci o nec osis, app oxima ely wi h 2–3 mm in diame e , may be isible in
he co yledons (OIE 2013).
In ec ion in abo ing animals and pleu al luid o oe us can be s udied se ologically by
modi ied agglu ina ion es , ELISA (o limi ed alue in adul s) and PCR (Rados i s e al. 2007).
1.3 Mo ali y in newbo n lamb
Neona al mo ali y a e is he pe cen age o lambs ha die in he i s 28 days o li e. A
ealis ic a ge o neona al mo ali y a e in a well-managed lock should be 3% and he uppe
accep able limi unde any ci cums ances should be 5%. This a e should be cons an ly
calcula ed and eadjus ed h oughou he lambing season, in o de o moni o any ab up change
(Dennis 1974; Rook e al. 1990; Haughey 1991; Be nal 2001).
Diso de s o newbo n lambs can be b oadly classi ied in wo ypes, based on hei ae iology
(Dennis 1974; Rook e al. 1990; Haughey 1991; Be nal 2001):
 Diso de s o non-in ec ious ae iology;
 Pa hological condi ions o mic obial o pa asi ic ae iology.
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1.3.1 Leading causes o dea h in Hau e Vienne
1.3.1.1 En e o oxaemia
En e o oxaemia is mo e commonly called pulpy kidney and is caused by Clos idium
pe ingens ype D (Duncanson 2012), a G am-posi i e, od-shaped, anae obic, and spo e-
o ming bac e ia.
I can be ound in g owing lambs in comme cial locks ha ha e no been accina ed
adequa ely (Duncanson 2012). Animals in high s a e o nu i ion on a lush eed, g ass o g ain,
end o be mo e suscep ible o his disease (Bha e al. 2009).
Lambs om accina ed mo he s should ha e hei i s dose o accine by 10 weeks o age
ollowed by a second dose 4–6 weeks la e . Lamb om un accina ed mo he s should be
accina ed as ea ly as 4 weeks o age, wi h a second dose 4–6 weeks la e . When he isk is e y
high, a dose o accine should be gi en wi hin he i s 2 days o li e (Duncanson 2012). Lambs
and sheep accina ed du ing he p e ious yea equi e only one injec ion in he subsequen yea
(Bha e al. 2009).
The disease is no mally mani es ed by sudden dea h, al hough obse an keepe s can de ec
sick cold and mo ibund animals ha do no espond o ea men . Nec opsy indings a e usually
su icien o es ablish a diagnosis: he abdomen, pleu al ca i y and pe ica dium will be illed
wi h luid, usually bloody (Duncanson 2012); he pulpy ex u e o he kidney is due o acu e
ubula epi helial degene a ion and/o nec osis and in e s i ial edema and hemo hage (McGa in
& Zacha y 2006) ( igu e 1). The e is also a high le el o suga in he u ine, which can be
con i med by a small animal u ine dips ick (Duncanson 2012).
A) B) C)
Figu e 1: Hemo hagic kidneys (A and B) o a h ee week old lamb and a pulpy kidney (C) o ou days old
lamb wi h en e o oxaemia. (Maciel 2014)
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1.3.1.2 Omphalophlebi is
Umbilical in ec ions ( igu e 2) may emain localized and de elop in o a disc e e abscess
in ol ing he body wall o may ex end o pe i oni is, u achal in ec ion, li e abscessa ion and,
possibly, mo e gene alized in ec ion in ol ing he join s, meninges, lungs, kidneys and
endoca dium (Sco 2007).
The umbilicus mus be ully imme sed in a highly concen a ed iodine solu ion wi hin he
i s 15 minu es o li e. This mus be epea ed a leas 2–4 hou s la e . An ibio ic ae osol sp ays
a e much in e io o iodine solu ions o d essing na els and, besides ha , a e much mo e
expensi e (Sco 2007).
Failu e o adop sound managemen p ac ices wi h espec o hygiene s anda ds and
ou ine na el d essings can lead o conside able lamb mo ali y (Sco 2007).
Figu e 2: Omphalophlebi is in a ou days old lamb wi h colibacillosis. (Maciel 2014)
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1.3.1.3 Colibacillosis
Basically, Esche ichia coli in ec ions in lambs, also known as wa e y mou h disease, a e
la gely due o poo managemen a he han i ulen pa hogens. The main p edisposing ac o is
likely o be a lack o su icien good quali y colos um wi hin he i s six hou s o li e
(Duncanson 2012). The old adage “a lamb ha has had adequa e colos um is ha d o kill and a
lamb ha has no is ha d o sa e”, s ill holds good (Duncanson 2012).
Sick lambs a e clea ly p os a ed, inappe an , hold hei heads low and wi h sialo hoea.
The designa ion “wa e y mou h” comes om his las inding. Colibacillosis is also cha ac e ized
by hypo he mia, dis ended luid abdomen and dec eased uminal mo ili y. Hypo he mia and
dehyd a ion o en has en he onse o coma and dea h. Sep icaemia is a cons an ea u e o his
disease (Rados i s e al. 2007) ( igu e 3).
The condi ion may be pe acu e and he dea h may occu be o e he lamb is seen wi h
dia hoea. Isola ion o he o ganism om hea blood usually con i ms he diagnos ic.
O en unclo ed colos um will be seen in he s omach (Duncanson 2012).
Figu e 3: Pe ica dial e usion in a wo days old lamb wi h colibacillosis. (Maciel 2014)
Rega ding an ibio he apy, 40% o hese s ains o E. coli a e esis an o ampicillin and a
be e esponse is expec ed wi h amoxicillin combined wi h cla ulanic acid. Good managemen ,
howe e , is i al and an ibio ics should ne e be used o compensa e de ec i e managemen
p ac ices (Duncanson 2012).

- 8 -
1.3.1.4 Coccidiosis
Coccidiosis in lambs is a common disease in housed locks and can o igina e dia hoea and
esul in dea h in 1 o 3 weeks. The oocys ou pu by g azing lamb is e y la ge when compa ed
o he ou pu by ewe. Coccidiosis occu s commonly in lambs ollowing in oduc ion in o a
eedlo si ua ion, whe e o e c owding and o he s esso s a e p esen (Rados i s e al. 2007).
Lambing g ounds should be well d ained and kep as d y as possible. All measu es ha
minimize he amoun o aecal con amina ion o hai coa s and leece should be p ac iced
egula ly (Rados i s e al. 2007).
The diagnosis is made by he p esence o oocys s in aeces and me ozoi es in he in es inal
issues.
Addi ion o decoquina e o mine al sal ga e ise o lowe oocys elimina ion, hus a ou ing
eime iosis con ol in sheep (Júnio e al. 2012).
Se icea lespedeza, a widely adap ed, nonbloa ing, wa m-season pe ennial legume ha can be
used o g azing, as hay, o as a conse a ion plan , was e ec i e in he p e en ion and con ol o
coccidiosis. Use o Se icea lespedeza could educe lamb losses pos -weaning, educe he need o
ea o coccidiosis and c ea e a signi ican economic bene i o li es ock p oduce s (Bu ke e al.
2013). Coccidios a s a e used o he con ol o na u ally occu ing coccidiosis in lambs
(Rados i s e al. 2007).
- 9 -
2. Ma e ials and me hods
2.1. Animals and husband y
Fi y-se en ou doo locks managed in ex ensi e b eeding sys ems we e s udied. This
ep esen ed app oxima ely 22.614 adul ewes (Mean ± SD: he d size=355.8 ± 255.7 ewes) o he
c oss-b ed be ween he ollowing aces Romano , Sou hdown, Su olk, Texel, Cha moise,
Chau ollais, Ile de F ance, Limousin, Romane and Vendéen dis ibu ed h oughou he Limousin
egion. This s udy was ca ied ou be ween Janua y and Ap il 2014.
2.2. Nec opsy examina ion
Pos -mo em examina ion o a ep esen a i e numbe o neona al dea hs can p o ide use ul
in o ma ion (Sco 2007).
Nec opsies o abo ions we e also pe o med bu in he Labo a oi e Dépa emen al
d’Analyses e de Reche che de la Hau e-Vienne.
2.3. S udy design and sampling
This was an obse a ional s udy: he cases o lamb mo ali y o owne s who asked o
e e ina y suppo we e in es iga ed. The samples we e selec ed using con enience sampling. A
c oss-sec ional analysis o a sample o 249 lambs dea hs and 118 ewe abo ions om all 57
locks we e egis e ed a Ve e ina y Clinic des Roche es du ing he pe iod be ween Janua y and
Ap il o 2014.
The minimum equi emen s o labo a o y submissions o abo ion in es iga ion include he
oe us(es), oe al s omach con en , a piece o placen a and a ma e nal se um sample. While he
i s submission may iden i y a ecognized abo i acien agen , i is impo an o collec abo ed
ma e ial h oughou he ou b eak, as mo e han one agen may be p esen wi hin he lock and
such knowledge is essen ial when planning ea men , con ol and p e en ion s a egies (Sco
2007).
- 10 -
2.4 Labo a o y es ing
Six een blood samples om sheep ha abo ed we e collec ed by jugula ein punc u e in
BD Vacu aine ® wi hou addi i es in he ube (Bec on Dickinson, Plymou h, UK). Se um
samples we e analysed in he Di ec ion Dépa emen ale de la Cohésion Sociale e de la
P o ec ion des Popula ions de la Hau e-Vienne o he de ec ion o B ucella o is (Rose-bengal
Pla e Tes ) (Table A-1).
Twen y-se en analyses o oe al and placen al issues om sheep ha abo ed we e
p ocessed by he Labo a oi e Dépa emen al d’Analyses e de Reche che de la Hau e-Vienne o
he de ec ion o nucleic acid (DNA) o Chlamydophila abo us and Coxiella bu ne ii (LSI
Ve MAX™ T iplex Coxiella bu ne ii & Chlamydophila spp. Real-Time PCR Ki , Li e
Technologies) and Toxoplasma gondii (Toxoplasma gondii Real-TM, Sacace Bio echnologies)
(Table A-1). I also esea ched Salmonella by isola ion and iden i ica ion. The ecommenda ion
o his labo a o y is o in es iga e he abo ion cause in he ollowing cases:
 I he e a e 3 abo ions in 3 days o less, independen ly o he size o he b eeding
he d o lo ;
 Abo ions spaced o e a maximum pe iod o h ee mon hs by ep oduc ion lo and by
lambing pe iod:
o Less han 250 animals: om 4% o abo ions;
o Mo e han 250 animals: om he 10 h abo ion.
All cases o coccidiosis we e con i med using he aecal lo a ion me hod (O a ec®, Zoe is).
2.5 Economic losses
Economic losses ela ed wi h pe ina al lamb mo ali y we e c udely es ima ed basing on he
p ice o lamb indica ed by he Ins i u de l’Éle age & Con édé a ion Na ionale de l’Éle age
(2013).
- 11 -
2.6 S a is ical analyses
The s a is ical package used o all s a is ical analyses was he Mic oso O ice® Excel 2007
and IBM® SPSS® S a is ics 22.
F equencies o clinical s a us be o e dea h and nec opsy indings we e compa ed using he
non-pa ame ic es Fishe s ins ead o Pea son chi-squa e es because he equencies in o he
g oups a e e y small, as only 20% o he cells p esen expec ed coun uppe han 5.
Flocks we e s a i ied in six g oups acco ding o he adul ewe numbe o a mo e ca e ul
analysis o abo ions: G oup 1: [40-200] adul ewes; G oup 2: ]200-400] adul ewes;
G oup 3: ]400-600] adul ewes; G oup 4: ]600-800] adul ewes; G oup 5: ]800-1000] adul ewes
and G oup 6: ]1000-1200] adul ewes. Since G oup 1 was a lock wi h a a io o abo ions/ewe
( lock numbe 5, Table A-2) much bigge han he o he s due o an unknown cause, i was
emo ed om his s udy in o de o a oid skewness in he esul s.
Flocks we e also s a i ied in six g oups, acco ding o he adul ewe numbe , o lamb
mo ali y analysis: G oup 1: [4-200] adul ewes; G oup 2: ]200-400] adul ewes; G oup 3: ]400-
600] adul ewes; G oup 4: ]600-800] adul ewes; G oup 5: ]800-1000] adul ewes and G oup 6:
]1000-1200] adul ewes.
Speci ic age g oups analysed we e he ollowing: unde 15; [15–30] and [31–45] days old.
Nec opsies we e s a i ied in h ee g oups acco ding o he owne ’s epo : g oup 1 - lambs
wi h dia hoea be o e dea h, g oup 2 - lambs wi h sialo hoea be o e dea h and g oup 3 - lambs
ha died suddenly, wi hou obse able symp oms.
- 18 -
4 Discussion
Fi s o all, i is impo an o emphasize ha he sample was selec ed using con enience
sampling. In his s udy, we in es iga ed he cases o lamb mo ali y o owne s who asked o
e e ina y suppo so, when con enience is he main c i e ion o selec ing a sample, i is e y
unlikely ha he sample will be uly ep esen a i e o he s udy popula ion, esul ing in biased
es ima es (Th us ield 2007). Ideally, all clien s o he clinic should ha e been con ac ed o know
he numbe o abo ions and dead lambs. Thus, he a e o abo ions and neona al mo ali y
would uly ep esen he eali y o a ms which Ve e ina y Clinic des Roche es suppo s.
Ano he impo an no e ela es o he ac ha he diagnoses a e me ely p esump i e so i should
only be ead as a guidance and no as a con i ma ion o he causes ha lead o dea h in lambs in
Limousin egion.
The analysis o he g aphics 1 and 2 pe mi s o conclude ha , in gene al, a ms wi h ewe
ewes ha e highe lamb mo ali y. The au ho ecommends u he in es iga ion ega ding
amilia managemen and p o essional managemen o explain hese cases.
Acco ding o able 5, i is possible o conclude ha dia hoea a ec ed mo e lambs wi h 31-
45 days old (50%). Sialo hoea achie ed a homogeneous dis ibu ion ac oss age g oups.
Acco ding o ables 5 and 6, he majo i y o lambs (55%) died wi hou showing any clinical
signs and lambs wi h 0-14 and 31-45 days old a e hose who die mo e (36%).

- 19 -
4.1 Abo ion
The p ena al mo ali y, ep esen ed in Table A-1, p esen s he agen s de ec ed in e iews o
oe uses and placen as bu i does no mean ha he cause o dea h was he p esence o his agen
in all hese cases. Some imes he s a e o decomposi ion o he oe us and he con ac wi h he
g ound esul s in he con amina ion wi h ubiqui ous agen s esponsible o posi i e esul s,
ob iously no necessa ily in ol ed in he dea h. Thus, he au ho ecommends cau ion when
o mula ing hypo hesis based on oe al o placen al analyses. Ideally, hese esul s should be
conside ed in associa ion o he mo he 's blood analyses (Table A-2).
Un o una ely, he esul s o his s udy indica e ha i was no possible o iden i y he
e hiologic agen in mos o he he ds animals (59%). The ac ha mos p oduce s do no ha e a
a ionale answe o he cause o abo ion is in acco dance wi h he s udy o Ki kb ide (2012),
ha shows ha i was no possible o iden i y a cause in 56% o he o ine abo ions. This ac
helps o explain he eason why many a me s do no usually send samples o he labo a o y. Due
o he small posi i e agen sample size, i is impossible o de ine he leading abo ion causes. The
use o me hods o he de ec ion o o he agen s in Limousin egion should also be conside ed.
As an abo ion a e abo e 2% sugges s an in ec ious ae iology, labo a o y in es iga ion is
s ongly ecommended (Sco 2007). The analysis o he g aphic 1 pe mi s o conclude ha he
smalle locks, [40-200] adul ewes, ha e abo ion a e abo e 2% in opposi ion o he bigge
locks. Familia and p o essional managemen p ac ices can be he answe o his di e ence bu
u he in es iga ion should be add essed o explain his.
- 20 -
4.2 Pos -mo em diagnosis
As Yen and o he s (2007) e e , one limi a ion o he nec opsy is ha i is subjec i e and
obse e -dependen (Yen e al. 2007).
4.2.1 En e o oxaemia
Al hough he oxoid is included in all he accines (Duncanson 2012), en e o oxaemia was
he leading cause o dea h o all nec opsied lambs (25.5%). Abo e all, i is impo an o aise
awa eness o a me s by in o ming hem abou he impo ance o lambs and ewe accina ion.
Vaccina ing ewe and lambs agains en e o oxaemia is a e y iable op ion o sa ing money.
Only o in o ma ion, in he Limousin egion i is possible o pu chase a dose/animal by 0.37€
(B a oxin 10® 100ml, MSD Animal Heal h) o 0.60€ (Cogla ax® 50ml, Ce a).
I is in e es ing o no e ha in he cases o en e o oxemia, 22.2% showed li e conges ion
( igu e 4). Epsilon (ε) oxin p omo es li e glycolysis (Pugh & Bai d 2012) as hey ac di ec ly
on he li e , which explains he hepa ic in lamma ion and he subsequen conges ion. In his
s udy, 44.4% o en e o oxaemia cases showed pe ica di is and 33.3% showed mesen e ic
lymphadeni is. Al hough his disease implies o many people a “pulpy kidney” ( igu e 5), only
55% o cases showed he p esence o kidneys wi h al e ed consis ency. En e o oxemia a ec s
mo e lambs wi h 15-30 days old ( able 6). Acco ding Sco (2007) is mo e common in ou days
old lambs.
Figu e 4: Li e conges ion. (Maciel, 2014)
Figu e 5: Pulpy kidney o a h ee days old lamb.
(Maciel, 2014)
- 21 -
4.2.2 Colibacillosis
The colibacillosis, cause o dea h o 14.9% lambs nec opsied, can be explained in a simila
way o ha o he en e o oxaemia: li e , pe ica dial and kidney conges ion mean sys emic
in ec ion and omphalophlebi is is one o he ga eways o he E. coli.
Al hough e e ina y use o colis in has no been p o en o inc ease he esis ance o colis in
in humans, i s u ilisa ion mus be ca e ully ponde ed. The Eu opean Medicines Agency
ecommends main aining he use o colis in in e e ina y medicine bu es ic ing i s use o he
ea men o in ec ed animals and hose in con ac wi h hem, and o emo e all indica ions o
p ophylac ic use. The eby, he au ho conside s ha i s e e ina y use should be esponsible
because colis in is ese ed o use in mul i-d ug esis an in ec ions in humans.
Some au ho s sugges he subs i u ion o colis in o e e ina y use by gen amicin since i is
no as c i ical wi h espec o use in humans and o sa e colis in as he las esou ce o clinical
isola e o Ex ended-Spec um Be a Lac amase and esis an o ca bapenems (Wo ld Heal h
O ganiza ion 2011, Ba iagye R. e al. 2012, and Medina e al. 2011). On he o he hand, o
comple e his easoning, Rados i s e al. (2007) ad ises he join use o gen amicin wi h
penicillin. Amikacin sul a e may also be an op ion in he iew o he au ho wi h ega d o i s
excellen G am-nega i e ac i i y (Rados i s e al. 2007) and i s classi ica ion in he p io iza ion
wi hin c i ically impo an an ibio ics o Wo ld Heal h O ganiza ion (2011).
Colibacillosis a ec s mo e lambs wi h 31-45 days old ( able 6). Sco (2007) e e s ha
colibacillosis is mo e common in o phan lambs bu we didn’ con i m ha in o ma ion in his
s udy.
- 22 -
4.2.3 Omphalophlebi is
Despi e he ac ha he numbe o samples es ed was a he limi ed, he compa a i e
analyses gi es clea indica ions ha omphalophlebi is ( igu e 6) inc eased he lambs’ isk o
de eloping sepsis. In ou s udy, sepsis was he cause o dea h o 19.1% lambs nec opsied and
omphalophlebi is was p esen in 83.3%. Na el disin ec ion wi h po idone iodine (7% inc u e), a
weak iodine solu ion o a chlo hexidine solu ion is ecommended. The chlo hexidine solu ion
appea s o ha e a mo e p olonged esidual an ibac e ial e ec , while he s ong iodine solu ions
may be associa ed wi h o ma ion o umbilical abscesses o pe sis en u achus (Pugh & Bai d
2012). Howe e , liga ion o umbilical essels a he le el o he abdomen using plas ic clamps,
a ailable o his pu pose, may be mo e e ec i e (Rados i s e al. 2007).
Figu e 6: Omphalophlebi is in a day old lamb. (Maciel, 2014)
The isk o sep icaemia, a h i is and e e o igina ing in a na el in ec ion, can be
exace ba ed by he ailu e o ans e o passi e immuni y (La son e al. 2004), emphasizing he
need o a p ope in ake o colos um o he newbo n.
In gene al, b oad-spec um an imic obials a e chosen because i is almos impossible o
p edic , based on clinical signs, he na u e o he in ec ing agen and i s an imic obial
suscep ibili y. Due o he wide a ie y o in ec ing agen s and hei a ying an imic obial
suscep ibili y, i is possible o make only gene al ecommenda ions o an imic obial he apy o
neona es (Rados i s e al. 2007).
Sep icemia a ec ed mo e lambs wi h 0-14 days old ( able 6), which is in ag eemen wi h
Sco (2007).
- 23 -
4.2.4 Coccidiosis
Al hough all animals wi h coccidiosis had dia hoea p io o dea h ( able 7), mo e posi i e
cases may ha e been o e looked as acu e coccidiosis can be di icul o diagnose due o he ac
ha dea h can occu be o e oocys s appea in he aeces, app oxima ely 2 weeks a e in ec ion
(Pugh & Bai d 2012). In 2 cases (50%), pulmona hepa iza ion was obse ed, while neph i is
was p esen in 2 (50%) cases. As i was no possible o es ablish a cause-e ec , u he
in es iga ion should be add essed.
Cocidiosis a ec ed mo e lambs wi h 31-45 days old ( able 6), which is in ag eemen wi h
Rados i s e al. (2007), who e e s ha coccidiosis occu s commonly in lambs ollowing
in oduc ion in o a eedlo si ua ion, whe e o e c owding and o he s esso s a e p esen .
4.2.5 S a a ion / hypo he mia / hypoglycaemia
Al hough s a a ion/hypo he mia/hypoglycaemia has no been a majo cause o lambs dea h,
he p oduce s epo ed his dea h. I was ound ha many p oduce s de alua ed spo adically
dea h o lambs and we e no in e es ed in in es iga ing i s cause. I is ema kable ha he keepe s
only ca e abou mul iple consecu i e dea hs. In a ime o he yea when he empe a u e eaches
-3ºC in many days, adding o he ac ha many ba ns had an ine ec i e en ila ion wi h d a s,
he absence o any hypo he mia diagnose case is, a leas , suspec o ques ionable.
I was decided o examine he ela ion be ween dia hoea and he ollowing diseases:
colibacillosis, en e o oxaemia o coccidiosis. This poin could be help ul o es ablish a
p ophylac ic p o ocol in a p oblema ic lock bu like able 7 shows, i is di icul o achie e a
eally de ini i e conclusion in ha way. Only 30% o lambs wi h colibacillosis o
en e o oxaemia had dia hoea be o e dea h, so we can no say ha all lambs wi h hese diseases
go dia hoea be o e dea h. Howe e , and in he case o coccidiosis, i is co ec o a i m ha
100% o lambs wi h his disease p esen ed dia hoea be o e dea h.
The binomial es showed ha he p opo ion o cases wi h dia hoea is no signi ican ly
di e en om cases wi hou dia hoea (95% CI 0.24-0.63; P = 0.66).

- 24 -
4.3 Economic losses
The analysis o he g aphic 1 pe mi s o conclude ha he smalle locks, [40-200] adul
ewes, ha e a highe abo ion a e (abo e 2%) han he bigge locks.
The calcula ion o he o al annual losses in ended o show wi hou oo much p eciousness,
he possible economical impac on he a ms. In o de o be mo e p ecise, his calcula ion should
discoun he p ice o he ood ha he animal would ea o be eady o slaugh e , which educes
he economic losses due o an ea ly dea h.
- 25 -
5 Conclusion
The p oblem o pe ina al lamb mo ali y is e y impo an , bo h om he iewpoin o
animal wel a e and a m economy. The e o e, i is impo an ha e e ina ians con inue o
coope a e wi h a me s o c ea e he condi ions in o de o educe pe ina al lamb mo ali y.
Many o he p edisposing ac o s and causes o lamb mo ali y can be a oided o educed
by adop ing simple and low-cos measu es, like aising he p oduce awa eness o he impo ance
o ca le accina ing agains en e o oxaemia (disease which caused a lamb dea h o 25.5%) doing
ou ine cop ology o dewo m be o e pa asi ism becomes a pa asi ic disease ( emembe ha
coccidiosis caused 8.1% o lamb dea h), and adop ing asep ic ca e o he newbo n umbilical co d
(83% o sep icemia cases and 67% o colibacillosis cases we e caused by omphalophlebi is).
I is also impo an o isola e he in ol ed agen s and subsequen ly de e mine hei d ug
suscep ibili y as well as o he equally e ec i e he apeu ic solu ions. The apies wi h lowe
po en ial e ec s on human heal h mus be in oduced in o de o educe he isks o he
eme gence o mul id ug- esis an agen s. The i s s ep o educe he use o an ibio ics and o he
ea men s is he elimina ion o he en i onmen al condi ions ha a ou he eme gence o heal h
p oblems.
The esul s o his s udy indica e ha i was no possible o iden i y he e iologic agen in
mos o he he ds (59%). Fu he in es iga ion should be done o s udy new me hods o explo e
abo ion e iologic agen s and o s a o selec o he agen s in he Limousin egion o inc ease he
a me s con idence in hese esul s es s.
One should always bea in mind ha animal p oduc ion is a business and is i al o he
li elihood o many amilies. Mo e impo an han ea ing, he main pu pose o he e e ina ian
should be a closely moni o ing o he day- o-day ope a ions o each a m o be able o de ec and
p e en many po en ial heal h p oblems ha may. As he mo ali y a e was highe in lambs wi h
wi h 0-14 and 31-45 days old (36%) and as he majo i y o lambs (55%) died wi hou showing
any clinical signs, one should conclude ha i is impo an o in es in p e en ion. Ideally, a
e e ina ian should in eg a e all in o ma ion esul ing om he anamnesis, au opsy indings,
biochemical pa ame e s, ou ine cop ology, e alua ion o in as uc u es, a m economy, e c.
Only hen we can con ibu e o he inc ease o he a me s p o i s, who will in u n ega d
e e ina ians no as an expense bu as a co ne s one in hei business de elopmen .
- 26 -
6 Con lic o in e es s a emen
The au ho a i ms ha he e a e no con lic ing in e es s in ol ed in he p oduc ion o his
disse a ion.
- 27 -
Re e ences
1. Ba igye R.; Gau am A., M. Piche L., P. Schaan L., F. K ogh D., Ole S. (2012)
“P e alence and an imic obial suscep ibili y o i ulen and a i ulen mul id ug-
esis an ”, Ame ican Jou nal o Ve e ina y Resea ch 73 (12), 1944-1950
2. Be nal, A.L. (2001) “O e iew o cu en esea ch in pa u i ion” Expe imen al
Physiology 86 (2), 213–222.
3. Bha P.N., A o a C.L. (2009) “Diseases and hei con ol” Sheep P oduc ion, 1s Ed.,
S udium P ess (India) P . L d., 266-267
4. Bu ke J., Mille J., Te ill T., O lik S., Acha ya M, Ga za J., Mosjidis J. (2013) “Se icea
lespdeza as an aid in he con ol o Eme ia spp. in lamb” Ve e ina y Pa asi ology
193(1-3), 39-46
5. Coleman, S. A., Fische , E. R., Howe, D., Mead, D. J., Heinzen, R. A. (2004) “Tempo al
analysis o Coxiella bu ne ii mo phological di e en ia ion” Jou nal o bac e iology
186(21), 7344–7352
6. Dennis, S.M. (1974) “Pe ina al lamb mo ali y in Wes e n Aus alia. 1. Gene al
p ocedu es and esul s” Aus alian Ve e ina y Jou nal 50(10), 443–449.
7. Espi i o San o Resea ch, “Se o P imá io Po ugûes: B e e Ca ac e ização” [Las
accessed on 2014 Feb 21]. A ailable h p://www.bes.p /si ebes/cms.aspx?plg=ec46e298-
a1 c-4c b-a73b-d097dad 62 3
8. Eu opean Medicines Agency, “An imic obial esis ance - Eu opean Medicines Agency
p o ides ad ice on use o colis in and igecycline in animals” [Las accessed on 2014 Feb
13].A ailable
h p://www.ema.eu opa.eu/ema/index.jsp?cu l=pages/news_and_e en s/news/2013/07/ne
ws_de ail_001859.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058004d5c1
9. Eu os a , “P oduc ion o mea , by ype o animal, 2012” [Las accessed on 2014 Feb 21].
A ailable
h p://epp.eu os a .ec.eu opa.eu/s a is ics_explained/index.php? i le=File:P oduc ion_o _
mea ,_by_ ype_o _animal,_2012_%281_000_ onnes_o _ca cass_weigh %29_Ag iPB13.
png& ile imes amp=20131028121221%29# ile
- 34 -
Abo ions
and Lambs
dead
Expec ed numbe
o lambs/yea / a m
Mo ali y
a e/ a m
Abo ions
and Lambs
dead
Expec ed numbe
o lambs/yea / a m
Mo ali y
a e/ a m
1
315.0
0.32%
4
73.5
5.44%
1
840.0
0.12%
5
52.5
9.52%
1
105.0
0.95%
5
525.0
0.95%
1
262.5
0.38%
5
210.0
2.38%
1
210.0
0.48%
5
840.0
0.60%
1
210.0
0.48%
5
630.0
0.79%
1
42.0
2.38%
5
1260.0
0.40%
1
4.2.0
23.81%
6
840.0
0.71%
2
157.5
1.27%
6
315.0
1.90%
2
315.0
0.63%
6
525.0
1.14%
2
840.0
0.24%
7
525.0
1.33%
2
157.5
1.27%
7
472.5
1.48%
2
525.0
0.38%
7
420.0
1.67%
2
840.0
0.24%
7
262.5
2.67%
2
210.0
0.95%
7
735.0
0.95%
2
52.5
3.81%
8
210.0
3.81%
2
630.0
0.32%
8
315.0
2.54%
2
630.0
0.32%
8
630.0
1.27%
2
315.0
0.63%
10
52.5
19.05%
2
157.5
1.27%
10
735.0
1.36%
3
525.0
0.57%
10
840.0
1.19%
3
630.0
0.48%
11
210.0
5.24%
3
315.0
0.95%
13
1050.0
1.24%
3
630.0
0.48%
13
735.0
1.77%
3
105.0
2.86%
15
52.5
28.57%
4
52.5
7.62%
16
315.0
5.08%
4
52.5
7.62%
16
1260.0
1.27%
4
157.5
2.54%
34
52.5
64.76%
49
315.0
15.56%
Table A-4: Mo ali y and abo ions a e ob ained in ou mon hs