Outbreaks of ecthyma contagiosum in 2 Swiss sheep herds and 1 goat flock
Tontis, A.; Konig, H.; Kaderli, R.; Walter, L.
Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde 123(1): 19-28
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7281 PMID: 7221535 Document Number: 179316
Contagious ecthyma has occurred sporadically, and in some cases is endemic, in various flocks of sheep and goats during the past seven years. This is a brief report on two outbreaks in sheep and one in a flock of goats . In the first, of 1000 sheep morbidity was about 10% in both young and adult animals. It was mostly the labial form, with a mild course in the spring and more severe in the autumn in lambs with ulcerative stomatitis and necrotic pneumonia. Mortality was 3% in lambs, and a further 3% remained underdeveloped. Adult sheep recovered spontaneously. In a second flock of 450 adult sheep 200 were affected by the labial form during summer grazing in the Alps. Mortality was low but some had to be emergency slaughtered. In a herd of 16 goats, 8 young animals 6-7 months old were affected suddenly. All sheep showed severe ulcerations in oral cavity, oesophagus and rumen. In goats lesions were papillomatous and restricted mainly to the skin of the head. Negative staining was used for rapid diagnosis. Animals were treated locally with sodium permanganate, salicylic acid ointment, and parenterally with antibiotics.