Red foot disease in Welsh mountain lambs
Davies, I.H.
Veterinary Record 122(19): 464-465
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 3394248 Document Number: 307117
An outbreak of red foot disease is reported in a flock of 300 Welsh mountain ewes in Wales in April/May 1987. This is the first report of the disease in this breed. The 12 affected lambs, all pure bred Welsh mountain lambs and possibly all the progeny of one homebred ram, were apparently normal at birth. The lesions appeared when the lambs were 1- to 2-days-old and by 3 to 4 weeks of age severely affected lambs were very lame with complete loss of hoof horn usually of several digits. Ulceration of the oral mucous membrane of the lips, anterior aspect of the gums and dorsal surface of the tongue was consistently present and in some lambs corneal opacities and small areas of haemorrhage and waxy crusts in the pinna were seen. PM examination showed emaciation. Histological examination of skin from the affected areas showed sub-epidermal bulla formation with reduction in the number of hair follicles and sebaceous glands. The reticular layer of the basement membrane zone often remained attached to the dermis. Serum zinc levels were low in 2 of 4 lambs and liver copper low in 2 of 3 lambs examined, but a hereditary component is suspected in the transmission of the disease.