Leptospirosis in a lamb

Authors: Marshall RB, Vermunt JJ, Arthur DG, West DM
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 42, Issue 4, pp 155, Aug 1994
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Bacterial, Zoonosis, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Public health
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: Recently, we reported on outbreaks of Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona infection in newly weaned lambs. It was suggested that wet environmental conditions played an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease in that class of sheep. This communication presents observations on another case of ovine leptospirosis, one that occurred under different circumstances, i.e. different season, age and environmental conditions. In the first week of September 1993, one dead, 3-week-old Romney ram lamb from a commercial flock of about 60 ewes and lambs near Palmerston North was presented for necropsy. Post-mortem examination revealed that the lamb was in good nutritional condition. The major gross findings were marked yellowing of the fat deposits (icterus), dark red urine (the presence of haemoglobin was confirmed by use of a commercial testing strip) and enlarged, dark brown/blackish kidneys suggestive of haemoglobinuric nephrosis…

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