[Jacob-list] lamb deaths

[Ralene Mitschler]

I second the postmortem idea.  if these were humans I would suspect some
type of virus but am unsure what types of viruses or bacteria can travel
through sheep!  I hope your vet or county extension agent can help you get
that done quickly...I am sure keeping them cold is a good idea but if it
were a traditional parasite (protozoan or worm) frozen makes diagnosis a wee
bit trickier.

I am pretty sure it isn't Toxoplasma gondii (the thing from barn cats).  I
know of no sudden death from that once lamb is born alive.  And it tends to
come with some type of brain abnormality if there is anything visually wrong
at all.

I am not a vet but my parasitology and epidemiology training make me suspect
infectious viruses or bacteria!  None of the students in my classes that
have sheep had any other ideas either I am sorry to say!!

I hope the cold weather knocks out whatever 'bug' it might be if that......
the good news is that most don't live outside their host for more than days
at best
Ralene

--
Ralene Mitschler
Chicory Lane Farm Jacob sheep
www.blueflowerflock.com
687 Oxford Ave
Hanover PA  17331
rmitschler at gmail.com
717.630.2988
717.817.3794 cell
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