Case notes on veterinary investigations in sheep, cattle and other species
District Veterinarian Conference 2014
Sheep
Exertional rhabdomyolysis in ewes
Written by: Elizabeth Braddon, SDV Lachlan LHPA
Many animals such as horses, pigs and various species of wildlife suffer from exertional rhabdomyolysis or
capture myopathy ? but it is not normally encountered in sheep. This is a case report in which 10 of 600 ewes
died after being harassed by dogs ... Read More
National sheep health monitoring project
Written by: SamanthaAllan, Senior Veterinary Officer, Animal Biosecurity, NSW Department of Primary
Industries, Tamworth Agricultural Institute
Monitoring occurs in both export and domestic processing plants across Australia. Reports are collected on a
range of conditions identified by producers, processors and state departments as having a significant economic
impact on sheep production ... Read
more
Relevance of historical anthrax data in current property risk assessments
Written by: Barbara Moloney, NSW DPI Orange and Dan Salmon, LLS Murray (formerly SDV Riverina)
Very early reports of anthrax cases can be found in the Sydney Morning Herald (1851) and the Department of
Mines Annual Reports going back to at least 1886 ... Read more
Revisiting the transmission of Taenia ovis (sheep measles) in Australia
Written by: David J Jenkins, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga
Wagga, NSW
The importance of T. ovis is financial losses for the Australian sheep meat industry through
downgrading and condemnation of meat and hearts and is a potential impediment to international trade of sheep
meat ... Read more
Sheep and goat pox
Written by: Bruce Watt (Central Tablelands Local Land Services, Bathurst) and Colin Scrivener (Veterinary
Consultant, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga)
Capripoxvirus genus viruses generally cause host specific infections in sheep (sheep pox), goats (goat
pox) and cattle (lumpy skin disease). However, some isolates infect both sheep and goats. Sheep and goat pox
(SGP) infections cause high morbidity and mortality ... Read more
Cattle
Beef measles, should we bother about looking for it in Australian abattoirs?
Written by: David J Jenkins, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga
Wagga
Cysticercus bovis or beef measles in the bovine intermediate host manifests as small, blister-like
cystic lesions about 5-10mm in length occurring most commonly in cardiac, tongue, diaphragm and/or masseter
musculature, but muscles throughout the body may be ... Read more
Bovine vibriosis (campylobacteriosis) causing mid term abortions in a beef herd
Written by: Belinda Edmonstone, District Veterinarian, Central West LLS, Forbes Office
Vibriosis causes serious economic loss in beef herds through reproduction wastage. An investigation conducted
from 1992-94 showed that 46% of cases of infertility in cattle in NSW was caused by vibriosis ... Read more
Dermatitis in angus heifer weaners and angus cows grazed on mixed vetch pastures
Written by: Colin Peake, DV Hay, Riverina LHPA and CSU Vet students Suzie Richards and Joanne Ward
Vetch is a plant that has often been sown in pastures for its high nutritional value and legume properties or
between cropping rotations. It is likely that vetch toxicosis occurs sporadically ... Read more
Eradication of bovine johne's disease using risk assessments
Written by: Gabrielle Morrice, Riverina LLS (Narrandera)
Following a positive reaction in a steer sold to an export feedlot, four co-owned properties were investigated
for the presence of BJD. The properties were well separated, but had been allocated the same PIC to reduce the
property to property transfer requirements caused by multiple movements between them ... Read more
Eradication of johne's disease from a beef herd
Written by: Dan Salmon, Regional Veterinarian, Deniliquin
The long incubation period of Mycobacterium avium spp paratuberculosis, the causative agent of
bovine Johne's disease (BJD) during which time none of the available tests have any predictive value makes
eradication of established disease from grazing beef herds almost impossible ... Read more
Vale rinderpest
Written by: Dan Salmon, Regional Veterinarian, Deniliquin
The extremely high morbidity and mortality of rinderpest resulted in it influencing many aspects of world
history, not just agriculture, and was the main factor in transforming farriers into veterinarians ... Read more
Other
Alpacas and other camelids—tips I have learnt
Written by: Diane Ryan, Senior Veterinary Officer, Menangle
Alpacas are different in many ways from traditional livestock industries. The terminology used with this
species is based on both its origin (South America) and aspects of its physiology and behaviour ... Read more
Elizabeth Macarthur agricultural institute, boffins and bugs
Written by: Dr Jef Hammond, Director, Centre for Animal & Plant Biosecurity, NSW Department of Primary
Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Woodbridge Rd, Menangle NSW
EMAI is the NSW Department of Primary Industries Centre for Biosecurity and Centre of Excellence for Animal
and Plant Health. First opened in 1990, EMAI plays a vital role in the protection of the State's $9 billion
primary industries sector, the community and environment ... Read more
Hendra virus policy update
Written by: Paul Freeman NSW DPI
The introduction of a Hendra virus vaccine, confirmation of infection in a second dog and recent developments
in the understanding of recrudescent HeV infection have necessitated review of the management of vaccinated
animals on infected premises, the risk posed by close contact companion animals and the policy of mandatory
euthanasia of infected animals ... Read more
HPAI Young 2013 - Lessons Learned from an Emergency Response
Written by: Eliz Braddon, SDV Lachlan LHPA
Avian influenza is included on the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) list of notifiable diseases. As
a result, Australia has an obligation to respond to any outbreak of avian influenza (AI). That response is
dependent on the viral subtype diagnosed ... Read more
Hydatids in Australia: the current situation in rural domestic dogs
Written by: David J Jenkins, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga
Wagga, NSW
The hydatid transmission situation in Australia is complicated by a widespread wildlife reservoir that is
important in perpetuating transmission of the parasite. Wildlife provides a reservoir of infection that
periodically “spills over” into domestic dogs, livestock and humans ... Read more
Management of lyssavirus in animals that interact with bats
Written by: Sarah Britton, NSW DPI, Orange
Australian bats (including flying foxes and microbats) are the natural reservoirs for a range of viruses that
may infect and sometimes kill humans and other animals. The viruses carried by Australian bats include Hendra
virus, Menangle virus and Australian Bat Lyssavirus ... Read more
Neurological signs and sudden death in horses located in close proximity
Written by: Colin Peake, DV Hay, Riverina LHPA and CSU Vet students Suzie Richards and Jo Ward
This report details two cases involving neurological signs and sudden death in horses.Two different properties
were involved, however both were in relatively close proximity to each other along the Lachlan River ... Read more