Case notes on veterinary investigations in sheep, cattle and other species
District Veterinarian Conference 2025
Sheep
Cerebellar abiotrophy in Merino sheep in the Southern New England region, NSW
Written by: Heidi Austin, District Veterinarian, North West LLS and Leah K Manning, EMAI, Department of Primary
Industries and Regional Development, Menangle
Cerebellar abiotrophy is a neurodegenerative postnatal syndrome that affects many species, including humans,
mice, horses, cattle, dogs, cats, goats, alpacas and sheep ... Read More
Evaluation of the new rapid RNA test for Dichelobacter nodosus virulence: the promising and disappointing
Written by: Alison Collins, NSW DPI, EMAI
A more rapid method to quantify D. nodosus virulence would be to measure the concentration of messenger RNA that translates or synthesises the acidic protease enzyme from an mRNA template ... Read More
Managing border disease virus in commercial flocks
Written by: Evie Duggan, District Veterinarian Cowra
Border disease causes reproductive impacts depending on the stage of gestation, ranging from embryonic loss/abortion, the birth of weak, ill-thrifty lambs through to the birth of persistently infected lambs ... Read More
Neurological inherited disorders of ruminants
Written by: Leah Manning Johnson, Katie Eager, Brendon O'Rourke, Pedro Pinczowski & Zoe Spiers of EMAI; and
Mark Krockenberger, Peter Windsor & Imke Tammen of The University of Sydney
A number of inherited neurologic disorders have been recognised in Australia and with the increasing availability and
affordability of whole genome sequencing analysis, associated causative variants are being identified for a number of
these conditions ... Read More
Cattle
The 2000 Akabane epidemic in the Narrabri district and lack of an Akabane epidemic in 2024 despite high monitoring herd seroconversions
Written by: Shaun Slattery, Local Land Services, Narrabri
This paper outlines the features of the 2000 Akabane epidemic in the Narrabri RLPB district then compares this with similar high Akabane seroconversions for the 2023-24 season, but with an absence of reported clinical Akabane cases ... Read More
Degenerative joint disease of the stifle joints in mature Angus cows
Written by: Bruce Watt, Central Tablelands Local Land Services, Bathurst and Anthony Chamings, Elizabeth Macarthur
Agricultural Institute, Menangle
Degenerative joint diseases, usually affecting the hip, stifle and hock, is quite common in older beef cows and it is
the experience of the first author that the stifle joints are most commonly affected ... Read More
Epidemiologic investigations into pinkeye disease of cattle in Australia
Written by: Mac Kneipp
Pinkeye is said to be the most important eye disease of cattle worldwide which affects animal health, production,
welfare and antimicrobial use ... Read More
Investigating reproductive disease of beef cattle in the pastoral zone - a field clinician's perspective
Written by: Scott Parry, Contract DV - Western LLS, Silverback Vet Services
I have been asked to present to you today a clinician's perspective of the investigation and
diagnosis of reproductive disease in beef cattle in the pastoral zone ... Read More
Late-term abortions in cattle at Bugaldie, NSW
Written by: Kate Atkinson, Central West LLS
The property experienced six late-term abortions in 2024 calving season with the investigation leading to a diagnosis of clinical Akabane infection ... Read More
Neurological inherited disorders of ruminants
Written by: Leah Manning Johnson, Katie Eager, Brendon O'Rourke, Pedro Pinczowski & Zoe Spiers of EMAI; and
Mark Krockenberger, Peter Windsor & Imke Tammen of The University of Sydney
A number of inherited neurologic disorders have been recognised in Australia and with the increasing availability and
affordability of whole genome sequencing analysis, associated causative variants are being identified for a number of
these conditions ... Read More
An outbreak of trichomoniasis in the Bingara District of NSW
Written by: Ted Irwin BVSc MANZCVS BA, District Veterinarian, North West LLS (Warialda)
A private practitioner contacted the LLS about some poor pregnancy testing results, as low as 24% pregnancy tested in calf ... Read More
Sudden death caused by Bovine Herpes Virus Type 5 in Angus calves in the Central West of NSW
Written by: Danielle Plummer, Central West Local Land Services, Nyngan NSW, Shaun Slattery, North West Local Land Services, Narrabri NSW, Emily Winkenwerder and Anthony Chamings, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Menangle NSW
A producer reported the sudden onset of neurological signs and deaths in 2-3-week-old Angus calves in good
condition, with rapid development of hypersalivation, depression and seizures, leading to death within 24-48 hours ... Read More
Other
EAD responses - who needs epidemiology?
Written by: Andrew Biddle, Northern Tablelands Local Land Services, Inverell
Let's consider the question in 3 parts; what is epidemiology? what skills are we referring to in different sections
of a response? and which skills match which roles? ... Read More
Experiences working in a forward command post during the varroa mite biosecurity response
Written by: Megan Davies, District Veterinarian, Narrabri
Varroa mite is the most serious pest of European Honeybees worldwide, and prior to this detection, Australia had been free of varroa mite ... Read More
Intervention project to enhance disease surveillance in the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales
Written by: Kate Burren, District Veterinarian, Northern Tablelands Local Land Services, Glen Innes
In the Northern Tablelands there appeared to be an increase in the number of abortions and stillbirths in cattle and
on further investigation, it appeared that the problem was at least in part due to arboviruses but, unfortunately,
lack of data prevented an in-depth assessment ... Read More
An investigation into pre-weaning mortality in piglets during Spring 2022 in the Murray LLS region
Written by: Katelyn Braine, District Veterinarian, Murray Local Land Services, Deniliquin NSW
This report describes an investigation into increased preweaning mortalities on a small piggery located in the Murray
LLS region from October to December 2022 ... Read More
Livestock rescue operations - simple techniques done well
Written by: David King, Senior Operator, NSW State Emergency Service Hawkesbury Unit, Vice chair of the Animal Emergency Incident Management Network
There are just so many ways for livestock to get themselves into trouble and the key to a successful rescue operation is a range of simple manual manipulation techniques ... Read More
NSW dashboard for gastrointestinal nematodes & anthelmintic resistance in ruminants
Written by: Jan Šlapeta and Emily Francis, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, and
Janina McKay, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, NSW DPI, Menangle
We have developed a rapid molecular diagnostic approach that identifies parasite species and screens for resistance to levamisole and benzimidazoles in livestock gastointestinal nematodes ... Read More
A novel outbreak of Brucella suis in a veterinary practice: a One Health investigation
Written by: Cecily Moore and Emily Gibson
An outbreak of brucellosis was identified at a veterinary practice following notification of several cases amongst staff, the first known outbreak of this nature in Australia ... Read More