Dermatophilosis as a cause of pelt defects in lambs

Authors: Passman A, Alley MR, Halligan G
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 35, Issue 10, pp 180, Oct 1987
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Bacterial, Integument/skin/wool/hair/fur/feather, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Trauma/injuries
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: In a clinical communication to your journal in 1985, Allworth et al. described four outbreaks of dermatophilosis in five-month-old lambs grazing Brassica crops in wet humid conditions. The lesions were thick crusty accumulations of inflammatory exudate at the base of the fleece closely attached to the epidermis. Histologically, there was invasion of hair follicles by Dermatophilus, extensive accumulation of inflammatory exudate in the dermis and lifting of the epidermis from the dermis in severely affected areas. We have recently had the opportunity to examine several pelts from lambs slaughtered at the Imlay meatworks at Wanganui. Numerous large (up to 3 cm diameter), irregular, but often circular, erosions were present on the dorsal surface of the pelt extending up to 15 cm down the flanks. They were most numerous in the caudal areas…

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