The study was conducted in Mokwa, Nigeria, to estimate the live body weight (LBW) of Nigerian breeds of sheep using cannon bone length (CBL), and other linear body measurements (LBM). A total of 116 sheep were measured for LBW and LBM. The animals were categorized into two sex groups as male and female, and four age groups as <12 months, 13-24 months, 25-36 months and ≥37 months. The current findings showed that in almost all the age groups, the chest depth and heart girth alone or in combination gave the best fitted prediction equation(s). However, the CBL negatively correlated with LBW in the male and female (combined) of <12 months age group, and positively correlated with LBW in the age groups of 25-36 and ≥37 months.

In this study, efficacies of different therapeutic regimens along with 10% zinc-sulfate footbath for the treatment of acute foot rot in adult sheep were evaluated. The research work conducted on the adult sheep (n=104) of both sexes which were presented to the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex during April 2013 to May 2014. Foot rot was confirmed based on clinical and physical examinations. The sheep were divided into four equal groups; G-I, G-II, G-III, and G-IV. The animals of the G-I, II and IV were treated with a mixture of amoxicillin and cloxacillin at 15 mg/kg body weight (b.wt.) through intramuscular (IM) route, oxytetracycline at 20 mg/kg b.wt., IM, and enrofloxacin at 5 mg/kg b.wt., IM, respectively. The animals of G-III were treated with gamma benzene hexachloride cream. Along with the above treatments, all four groups were given footbath with 10% zinc-sulfate. Mean recovery time (days) was recorded as lowest in G-II (3.83±0.64) followed by G-I (4.17±0.31), G-IV (4.38±0.0.79) and G-III (5.67±0.98), respectively. The mean±SE values of rectal temperature and ruminal motility that were recorded before and after the treatment showed significant (p<0.05) differences. In conclusion, administration of parenteral antibiotics in combination with footbath was highly effective to treat combination with footbath was highly effective to treat the acute foot rot in sheep.

This study was conducted to determine seroprevalence of Neospora infection in cattle, sheep, horses, donkeys, and dogs in Hamedan province, Iran. Blood samples (n=2254) from the animals were collected randomly during 2009 to 2012. Sera were prepared from the collected blood samples, which were then examined for the presence of antibodies against Neospora using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Neospora modified direct agglutination test (N-MAT), and indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). The seroprevalence rates of Neospora were found as 17.4% (n=245/1406) in cattle, 2.2% (n=8/358) in sheep, 40.8% (n=49/120) in horses, 52% (n=52/100) in donkeys, and 27% (n=73/270) in dogs. In this study, higher levels of Neospora infection were detected in cattle, horses, donkeys, and dogs. This is the first comprehensive study of Neospora infection in domestic animals in Iran. Further researches on molecular and bioassay studies and designing appropriate control strategies against neosporosis in Iran are necessary and strongly recommended.

This study analyzed sheep prion protein (PrP) genotypes of samples submitted from Ontario and other provinces of Canada to the Animal Health Laboratory at the University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, between 2005 and 2012. In Ontario, the proportion of scrapie-resistant sheep increased from 2005 to 2012 as evidenced by an increase in the ARR haplotype. When Canadian provinces (Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia) were compared from 2008 to 2012, a high proportion of scrapie-resistant sheep was found in all the provinces. The proportions of resistant sheep were lower in Alberta and Quebec than in Ontario and Nova Scotia. Alberta had higher proportions of susceptible sheep and a higher frequency of VRQ alleles, and Quebec had a higher frequency of the ARQ allele.

Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) is a transmissible lung cancer caused by Jaggsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV). It is difficult to identify animals infected with JSRV but are clinically healthy. The virus does not induce a specific antibody response and, although proviral DNA sequences of JSRV can be found in mononuclear blood cells, the detection is inconsistent. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of JSRV in the bone marrow of infected sheep and develop a more consistent screening method. Immunohistochemical examination of bone marrow samples from 8 asymptomatic JSRV-infected sheep revealed the presence of positively labelled cells. However, JSRV could not be detected by a highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in bone marrow aspirates periodically collected from these animals. Results suggest that JSRV-infected cells may be present in the bone marrow of symptomless animals, but the number is below the detectable level for PCR. Therefore, this technique does not seem to be helpful for preclinical diagnosis of OPA.

Objective-To determine the usefulness of retina samples for detection of disease-associated prion protein by use of a commercially available enzyme immunoassay (EIA) intended for rapid identification of sheep and cattle with transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Samples-Retina, brainstem at the level of the obex, and retropharyngeal lymph node samples obtained from 15 TSE-inoculated sheep (scrapie [n = 13] or transmissible mink encephalopathy passaged through a bovid [2]); retina and brainstem samples obtained from 11 TSE-inoculated cattle (transmissible mink encephalopathy passaged through a bovid [7] or classical BSE [4]); and negative control tissue samples obtained from 2 sheep and 2 cattle that were not inoculated with TSEs. Procedures-Tissue samples were homogenized and analyzed for detection of abnormally folded disease-associated prion protein with a commercially available EIA and 2 confirmatory assays (western blot analysis or immunohistochemical analysis). Results-Retina sample EIA results were in agreement with results of brainstem sample EIA or confirmatory assay results for negative control animals and TSE-inoculated animals with clinical signs of disease. However, TSE-inoculated animals with positive confirmatory assay results that did not have clinical signs of disease had negative retina sample EIA results. Retina sample EIA results were in agreement with brainstem sample immunohistochemical results for 4 TSE-inoculated sheep with negative retropharyngeal lymph node EIA results. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results of this study suggested that retina samples may be useful for rapid EIA screening of animals with neurologic signs to detect TSEs.

Objective-To determine the pharmacokinetics of ceftiofur crystalline-free acid (CCFA) following SC administration of a single dose to sheep. Animals-9 healthy adult female Suffolk-crossbred sheep. Procedures-Each sheep was administered 6.6 mg of CCFA/kg, SC, in the cervical region once. Serial blood samples were collected at predetermined intervals for 14 days. Serum concentration of ceftiofur free-acid equivalents (CFAE) was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by compartmental and noncompartmental methods. Results-Pharmacokinetics for CCFA following SC administration in sheep was best described with a 1-compartment model. Mean +/- SD area under the concentration-time curve from time 0 to infinity, peak serum concentration, and time to peak serum concentration were 206.6 +/- 24.8 μ•h/mL, 2.4 +/- 0.5 μg/mL, and 23.1 +/- 10.1 h, respectively. Serum CFAE concentrations ≥ 1 μg/mL (the target serum CFAE concentration for treatment of disease caused by Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida) were maintained for 2.6 to 4.9 days. No significant adverse reactions to CCFA administration were observed. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results indicated that adequate therapeutic serum concentrations of CFAE for treatment of disease caused by M haemolytica and P multocida were achieved in sheep following SC administration of a single dose (6.6 mg/kg) of CCFA. Thus, CCFA might be useful for the treatment of common respiratory tract pathogens in sheep.

Since there is no registered anthelmintic drug available for use in goats, extra-label use of drugs is a common practice in most countries. The aim of the present study was to compare the pharmacokinetic disposition of levamisole (LVM)-oxyclozanide (OXZ) combination in sheep and goats following per os administration. Goats (n = 8) and sheep (n = 8) 12- to 16-months-old were used for this study. The animals received tablet formulation of LVM and OXZ combination orally at a dose of 7.5 mg/kg and 15 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Blood samples were collected by jugular vein at different times between 5 min and 120 h after drug administrations. The plasma concentrations of LVM and OXZ were analyzed by HPLC following liquid-liquid phase extraction procedures. The plasma concentrations and systemic availabilities of both LVM and OXZ in goats were lower and the plasma persistence of LVM was shorter compared with those observed in sheep. Terminal half-lives (t1/2λz) of both molecules are shorter in goats compared with those in sheep. Goats treated with LVM-OXZ combination at the recommended dose for sheep may result in a reduced efficacy, because of under-dosing, which may increase the risk of drug resistance in parasites. Increased or repeated dose could be a strategy to provide higher plasma concentration and thus to improve the efficacy against the target parasites in goats compared with sheep. However, some adverse reactions may occur since LVM has relatively very narrow therapeutic index due to its nicotine-like structure and effect.