Case notes on veterinary investigations in sheep, cattle and other species

2014 spring edition of case studies

Sheep

Clostridium sordellii, A traditional and emerging pathogen
Written by: Bruce Watt, Local Land Services, Bathurst and Patrick Staples, State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Menangle
Clostridium sordellii is one of the anaerobes responsible for malignant oedema, a wound infection of sheep, cattle and other species that develops in the subcutaneous fascia and causes an acute fatal toxaemia ... Read More

Illness and mortalities in crossbred lambs, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae cultured from a single joint
Written by: Nik Cronin, DV Forbes and Hanna Thomas, DV Condobolin Central West Local Land Services
This report outlines a case of illness and mortalities in ten month old cross bred lambs with depression, lameness and joint swellings post shearing ... Read More

Mycotoxicosis in a merino flock
Written by: Megan Davies, District Veterinarian, Narrabri / Walgett
Mycotoxins are secondary mould metabolites produced by certain species of fungi commonly found in grain, hay and silage, and occur as a result of fungal contamination of the feed during growth, harvest or storage ... Read More

Staggers in medium wool merinos
Written by: Dr Cecily Moore, DV Coonabarabran
The occurrence of staggers in lambs in a medium wool merino flock was investigated with initial histopathological findings of the central nervous system consistent with a diagnosis of degenerative thoracic myelopathy ... Read More

Staphylococcus aureus mastitis in a jaundiced ewe
Written by: Bruce Watt, Central Tablelands Local Land Service, Bathurst and Patrick Shearer, State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Menangle
In this case jaundice is presumed to be due to the elaboration of toxins associated with staphylococcal mastitis as there is no evidence of hepatopathy or copper poisoning ... Read More

Cattle

Suspected sticky nightshade (Solanum sisymbriifolium) intoxication in a greater Sydney beef herd
Written by: Kate Sawford, Greater Sydney Local Land Services
Plants in this genus produce many toxic alkaloids, including solanine, in their leaves, fruit, and tubers with a number of mammalian species known to be at risk to toxicity, including cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, ducks, horses, rabbits, dogs, and humans ... Read More