Newsletters

WA Livestock Disease Outlook - for producers

WA Livestock Disease Outlook - for producers

Bluetongue virus ruled out in a case of sudden death in sheep

  • A total of 52 ewes from a mob of 560 yellow tag ewes in the Wheatbelt died suddenly.
  • The sheep had been grazing a blue lupin paddock over the past two months and had recently experienced an extreme storm weather event. 
  • A post-mortem on one animal showed jaundice with yellowing of body tissues including the liver.
  • Laboratory testing revealed severe liver damage and damage to blood vessels in other tissues.
  • Bluetongue virus, a reportable animal disease in WA, can cause similar changes in blood vessels so testing was undertaken at the Australian Animal Health Laboratory (AAHL) to rule out this disease. Testing proved negative as did testing for salmonella infection and annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT).
  • Lupinosis was accepted as the cause of the deaths.

Read more on bluetongue virus and lupinosis.

Pages

In this issue

  1. Why DAFWA carries out surveillance for livestock disease
  2. Recent significant cases submitted to the Animal Health Laboratories (AHL)
  3. Bluetongue virus ruled out in a case of sudden death in sheep
  4. Transmissible spongiform encephalitis (TSE or mad cow disease) exclusion
  5. Sudden death in Merino ewes
  6. Suspected failure of passive transfer (FPT) of colostrum in seven-day-old calves
  7. In late autumn to early winter, be on the lookout for:
    1. Annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT)
    2. Mastitis in ewes
    3. Secondary photosensitisation
  8. Emergency Animal Disease hotline
  9. Previous issues and to subscribe
  10. Feedback
View on one page
Back to Archive