The importance of ovine arthritis in meat hygiene in New Zealand

Authors: Almand K, Kaferstein FK, Ekdahl MO
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 20, Issue 4, pp 49-53, Apr 1972
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Joint/arthrology, Disease/defect, Bacterial, Infectious disease, Locomotor, Meat, Contamination/hygiene, Public health, Harvesting/processing
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: Arthritis is one of the most commonly seen pathological conditions in lambs and sheep in New Zealand meat works. It causes considerable economic loss because affected carcasses have to be either wholly or partly condemned. Although many micro-organisms are capable of causing arthritis in sheep and lambs, Epysipelothrix rhusiopathiae plays a dominant role. Dolman (1957), Behrens (1962), Drabble (1964), Haupt (1964), Collins ( 1966), and Thornton ( 1968), reported E. rhusiopathiae responsible in lambs. In New Zealand, Hopkirk and Gill (1930) were the first to report an arthritic condition affecting the limb joints of lambs. The New Zealand Meat Regulations 1969 require total condemnation of the carcass if the arthritis is acute with evidence of systemic infection or emaciation or in the case of polyarthritis if it is acute or shows evidence of systemic infection. In cases of localized or chronic arthritis, the Regulations require the condemnation of the affected joint and corresponding lymph nodes, where affected…

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