What to do if Sheep Get Contagious Pleuropneumonia?

What is Contagious Pleuropneumonia in Sheep?

Contagious pleuropneumonia of sheep is also called mycoplasma pneumonia of sheep, which is also commonly known as “rotten lung disease” by farmers. It is a highly contagious disease caused mainly by infection with mycoplasma. The main characteristics of the disease are cough, high fever, fibrinous and serous pneumonia, and pleurisy, and it is usually acute and has a high mortality rate. Once the sheep flock is sick, it will bring huge economic losses to the sheep farmers, and it must be given enough attention.

Three Main Symptoms of Sheep Contagious Pleuropneumonia

According to the course of the disease, it is often divided into three types: the most acute, acute, and chronic.

The most acute type

The body temperature of the sick sheep rises significantly, generally reaching about 41°C, and the sheep breathe rapidly and cry out in pain. Within half a day or a day and a half of the onset of the disease, exudate will enter the chest cavity of the sick sheep, causing the whole body to tremble when breathing, and the sheep will lie on the ground and be unable to stand up; the mucosal congestion is relatively serious, and the sheep will groan constantly, and finally die from suffocation. The course of the disease generally does not exceed 5 days, and some only last 12-24 hours.

Acute type

This type of pleuropneumonia is the most common. In the early stage of the disease, the body temperature of the sheep will rise sharply, followed by a short and wet cough, accompanied by serous nasal discharge. When the chest wall is touched, the sick animal will feel pain, have difficulty breathing, and groan in pain; the eyelids will swell, tears will flow or there will be mucus and purulent eye mucus. When the sheep is on the verge of death, the body temperature of the sheep will drop sharply, even below normal temperature. Pregnant ewes will have miscarriages. The duration of this type of sheep infectious pleuropneumonia is mostly 7 to 15 days, and some can last up to about 1 month. If the sick sheep does not die, it may turn into a chronic disease.

Chronic type

This type is more common in summer, and the symptoms of sheep are relatively mild, including temperature drop, coughing, diarrhea, occasional nasal discharge, rough and dull hair, and the body will gradually weaken. If the resistance of chronic cases is reduced or they come into contact with acutely ill sheep, they are very likely to relapse or develop complications and die.

What to do if Sheep Get Contagious Pleuropneumonia?

1. Once a sheep is found to be infected with contagious pleuropneumonia, the epidemic area must be sealed off immediately. The sick sheep must be isolated and treated, and suspected sheep must be isolated and observed in groups.

2. Disinfect the site where the sick sheep has been in contact, including the site, sheep house, feeding utensils, and feces. The dead sheep should be treated harmlessly.

3. Treat sick sheep in time. Sensitive drugs can be used in the early stage of the disease. Commonly used drugs include oxytetracycline and florfenicol injections. These two veterinary drugs are antibiotics commonly used in veterinary medicine to treat a variety of bacterial infections, including respiratory infections like contagious pleuropneumonia in sheep. When using them, take care to avoid drug resistance in sick sheep.

4. For healthy sheep that are not infected with the disease, inject sheep infectious pleuropneumonia vaccine, 5ml lamb and 3ml lamb, for emergency prevention.

Some Effective Measures to Prevent Sheep Pneumonia

Causative organisms are often ubiquitous and prevention generally involves management to reduce stressors that may increase the likelihood of disease. Here are some common steps to prevent the disease.

1. Food safety

Maintain the quality of feed and water to avoid the spread of bacteria and viruses.

2. Environment Management

Improve Ventilation: Ensure barns and housing areas are well-ventilated to reduce the risk of respiratory infections.

Maintain Cleanliness: Regular cleaning and disinfection of the living quarters are essential to prevent the disease from spreading.

3. Vaccination Program

You can choose appropriate vaccines for vaccination according to the disease and seasonal characteristics to improve the immunity and resistance of sheep.

4. Regular Health Checks

Conduct regular health inspections of your flock to catch and address any illnesses early.

In addition to strengthening general measures, the key issue for usual prevention is to prevent the introduction or migration of sick sheep and carriers. Newly introduced sheep must be isolated and quarantined for more than one month, and can only be mixed into large groups when they are confirmed to be healthy.

Author : Gnee Bio TechnologyEstablished in 2011, TIANJIN GNEE BIO TECHNIQUE CO., LTD. has more than ten years of continuous research and development of a variety of Veterinary drugs, focusing on the health of your livestock, poultry, and pets.