{"id":7876,"date":"2015-12-07T15:04:13","date_gmt":"2015-12-07T15:04:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/?page_id=7876"},"modified":"2016-04-18T12:48:16","modified_gmt":"2016-04-18T11:48:16","slug":"listeriosis-in-sheep","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/disease-management\/sheep-diseases\/listeriosis-in-sheep\/","title":{"rendered":"Listeriosis in sheep"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><div class=\"printfriendly pf-button  pf-alignright\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/disease-management\/sheep-diseases\/listeriosis-in-sheep\/?pfstyle=wp\" rel=\"nofollow\" onclick=\"pfTrackEvent(&#039;Listeriosis in sheep&#039;); return false;\" title=\"Printer Friendly, PDF & Email\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"pf-button-img\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.printfriendly.com\/buttons\/printfriendly-pdf-email-button-notext.png\" alt=\"Print Friendly, PDF & Email\" style=\"width: 110px;height: 30px;\"  \/>\n                    <\/a>\n                <\/div><\/p>\n<h2>Sheep Diseases<\/h2><div id=\"gticontainer\"><div class=\"gti_clear\"><\/div><div id=\"gti_letterindex\"><ul><li><a href=\"#gti_all\">All<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_A\" href=\"#\">A<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_B\" href=\"#\">B<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_C\" href=\"#\">C<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_E\" href=\"#\">E<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_F\" href=\"#\">F<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_G\" href=\"#\">G<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_H\" href=\"#\">H<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_J\" href=\"#\">J<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_K\" href=\"#\">K<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_L\" href=\"#\">L<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_M\" href=\"#\">M<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_N\" href=\"#\">N<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_O\" href=\"#\">O<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_P\" href=\"#\">P<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_R\" href=\"#\">R<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_S\" href=\"#\">S<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_T\" href=\"#\">T<\/a><\/li><li><a id=\"gti_sel_W\" href=\"#\">W<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class=\"gti_clear\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"tagindex\"><div id='gti_div_A'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_A'>A<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/acidosis-ruminal\/\">Acidosis - Ruminal<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/adenomatosis-pulmonary\/\">Adenomatosis - Pulmonary<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/arthritis-in-sheep\/\">Arthritis in Sheep<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_B'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_B'>B<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/barbers-pole-worm\/\">Barbers Pole Worm<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/sheep-blowfly-strike\/\">Blowfly Strike<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/border-disease\/\">Border Disease<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_C'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_C'>C<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/campylobacteriosis-2\/\">Campylobacteriosis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/ccn\/\">CCN<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/cerebrocortical-necrosis\/\">Cerebrocortical necrosis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/chlamydial-abortion\/\">Chlamydial Abortion<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/circling-disease\/\">Circling Disease<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/cobalt-deficiency-in-sheep\/\">Cobalt Deficiency<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/coccidiosis-in-lambs\/\">Coccidiosis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/coenurosis\/\">Coenurosis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/contagious-ecthyma\/\">Contagious Ecthyma<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/contagious-pustular-dermatitis\/\">Contagious Pustular Dermatitis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/contagious-respiratory-tumours\/\">Contagious Respiratory Tumours<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/copper-poisoning\/\">Copper Poisoning<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/cryptosporidiosis-in-lambs\/\">Cryptosporidiosis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_E'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_E'>E<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/e-coli-infection-in-lambs\/\">E. coli infection in lambs<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/eimeria-in-sheep\/\">Eimeria in sheep<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/encephalitis-listerial\/\">Encephalitis - Listerial<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/endoparasites-in-sheep\/\">Endoparasites in Sheep<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/enzootic-abortion-in-ewes\/\">Enzootic Abortion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_F'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_F'>F<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/fasciola-hepatica-in-sheep\/\">Fasciola<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/fly-strike\/\">Fly Strike<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/foot-abcess\/\">Foot Abcess<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/foot-rot\/\">Foot Rot<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_G'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_G'>G<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/granuloma\/\">Granuloma<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/grass-staggers-in-sheep\/\">Grass Staggers in sheep<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_H'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_H'>H<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/haemonchus\/\">Haemonchus contortus<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/hairy-shaker-lambs\/\">Hairy-shaker lambs<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/hypomagnesaemia-in-sheep\/\">Hypomagnesemia in Sheep<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_J'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_J'>J<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/jaagsiekte\/\">Jaagsiekte<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/joint-ill-sheep\/\">Joint-ill<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_K'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_K'>K<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/ketosis\/\">Ketosis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_L'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_L'>L<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/listeriosis-in-sheep\/\">Listeriosis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/liver-fluke-sheep\/\">Liver Fluke<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/louping-ill\/\">Louping-ill<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_M'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_M'>M<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/magnesium-deficiency-2\/\">Magnesium Deficiency<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/mange-psoroptic\/\">Mange - Psoroptic<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/myiasis\/\">Myiasis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_N'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_N'>N<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/nematodirus\/\">Nematodirus battus<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_O'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_O'>O<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/orf\/\">Orf<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_P'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_P'>P<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/parasitic-gastroenteritis\/\">Parasitic Gastroenteritis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/pen\/\">PEN<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/polioencephalomalacia\/\">Polioencephalomalacia<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/pregnancy-toxaemia-in-sheep\/\">Pregnancy Toxemia<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/pulmonary-adenomatosis\/\">Pulmonary Adenomatosis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_R'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_R'>R<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/roundworm\/\">roundworm<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/roundworms-in-sheep\/\">Roundworms in Sheep<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/ruminal-acidosis\/\">Ruminal Acidosis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_S'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_S'>S<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/scab\/\">Scab<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/scald\/\">Scald<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/sheep-scab\/\">Sheep Scab<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/shelly-hoof\/\">Shelly Hoof<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/suppurative-polyarthritis\/\">Suppurative Polyarthritis<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_T'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_T'>T<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/taenia-multiceps\/\">Taenia multiceps<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/teladorsagia-circumcincta\/\">Teladorsagia circumcincta<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/thiamine-deficiency\/\">Thiamine Deficiency<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/toxaemia\/\">Toxemia, Pregnancy<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/toxoplasmosis\/\">Toxoplasmosis<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/trichostrongylus\/\">Trichostrongylus<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><div id='gti_div_W'><div class='blockletter' id='gti_W'>W<\/div><ul><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/watery-mouth-disease\/\">Watery Mouth Disease<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/white-line-separation\/\">White Line Separation<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/white-liver-disease\/\">White Liver Disease<\/a><\/li><li style=\"width:100%;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/sheep-diseases\/\/worms-in-sheep\/\">Worms in Sheep<\/a><\/li><\/ul><div class='gti_clear'><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<h4>Listeriosis<\/h4>\n<p><em><strong>Also known as: Circling Disease, Encephalitis &#8211; Listerial<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong><span class=\"responsive\"><\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7962\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/silaging.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7962\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7962\" src=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/silaging-300x198.jpg\" alt=\"silaging\" width=\"300\" height=\"198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/silaging-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/silaging-1024x677.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/silaging-320x210.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/silaging.jpg 1167w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7962\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em>Listeria monocytogenes<\/em> is found in soil, feedstuffs and feces. Silage may become a source of infection if soil containing the organism is included. If possible, feeding sheep silage should be avoided.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong><\/span>Listeriosis is caused by the contamination of feedstuffs by the bacteria <em>Listeria monocytogenes, <\/em>which is widely distributed in nature and is found in soil, feedstuffs and feces from healthy animals\u00a0(<a href=\"#ref\">Wardrope and Macleod, 1983<\/a>). Listeria can survive for up to three months in stored livestock manure (<a href=\"#ref\">Nicholson <em>et al<\/em>., 2005<\/a>). Silage may become a source of infection if soil containing the organism is included (<a href=\"#ref\">Low and Donachie, 1991<\/a>, <a href=\"#ref\">Wagner <em>et al<\/em>., 2005<\/a>). Improperly prepared silage having a pH value greater than 5.4 and silage which has become spoiled due to prolonged exposure to air (<a href=\"#ref\">Clarkson and Faull, 1987<\/a>;<a href=\"#ref\"> Low and Renton, 1985<\/a>) will enable the organism to multiply. Close grazing with soil ingestion may also be a cause. The incubation period is approximately 3 weeks following the introduction of silage (<a href=\"#ref\">Low and Renton, 1985<\/a>). Outbreaks of listeriosis in sheep fed silage usually affects less than 1% of the animals in a flock (<a href=\"#ref\">Scott, 1992<\/a>).<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The prevalence of <em>L. monocytogenes<\/em> on ruminant farms is seasonal, and associated with farm management practices, animal health and hygiene and feedstuff quality and storage. <strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is often seen around lambing time when sheep are housed and fed silage or haylage. \u00a0<\/span><\/strong>The epidemiology and transmission of <em>L. monocytogenes<\/em> differ between small-ruminant and cattle farms (<a href=\"#ref\">Nightingale <em>et al<\/em>., 2004<\/a>; <a href=\"#ref\">Nightingale <em>et al<\/em>., 2005<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"tooltips\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"tooltip\" title=\"An acute inflammation of the brain\">Encephalitis<\/a><\/span> is the most common form of listeriosis in sheep, although abortion, <span class=\"tooltips\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"tooltip\" title=\"Blood poisoning caused by pathogenic organisms in the blood circulation\">septicemia<\/a><\/span> and, less commonly, mastitis (<a href=\"#ref\">Winter<em> et al<\/em>., 2004<\/a>) and <span class=\"tooltips\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"tooltip\" title=\"Inflammation of the cornea\">keratitis<\/a><\/span> also occur (<a href=\"#ref\">Low\u00a0and Donachie,\u00a01991<\/a>). It is postulated that the organism reaches the brain by way of circulating blood, or branches of the trigeminal nerve that terminate in the oral cavity, nasal cavity or conjunctiva (<a href=\"#ref\">Barlow and McGorum, 1985<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Because of the location of the inflammation in the <span class=\"tooltips\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"tooltip\" title=\"Posterior part of the brain, adjoining the spinal cord\">brainstem<\/a><\/span>, <span class=\"tooltips\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"tooltip\" title=\"Cone-shaped area of the brain responsible for involuntary functions\">medulla oblongata<\/a><\/span> and <span class=\"tooltips\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"tooltip\" title=\"Part of the brainstem\">pons<\/a><\/span>, signs of cranial nerve dysfunction are prominent in affected sheep. Typical signs of listeriosis are initially inappetence and depression, followed by circling to one side (<a href=\"#ref\">Gill, 1937<\/a>). With <span class=\"tooltips\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"tooltip\" title=\"Paralysis of facial structures on one side of the face only\"> unilateral facial paralysis<\/a><\/span> and excessive salivation on the side affected. Individuals will often run into gates or corners and lean up against fences, progressing to <span class=\"tooltips\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"tooltip\" title=\"State of lying down or reclining\">recumbency<\/a><\/span> and death. Subtle differences in expression of these symptoms can make the diagnosis of listeriosis difficult. Central nervous system (CNS) fluid analysis may be used as an aid to diagnosis (<a href=\"#ref\">Scott, 1992<\/a>), in conjunction with <span class=\"tooltips\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"tooltip\" title=\"The study, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the blood\">hematology<\/a><\/span> and biochemistry to check for other causes of CNS signs.<\/p>\n<p>Death usually occurs within a few days and is preceded by <span class=\"tooltips\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"tooltip\" title=\"State of lying down or reclining\">recumbency<\/a><\/span> and paddling of the forelimbs (<a href=\"#ref\">Low and Donachie, 1991<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>Listeria is a non-notifiable <span class=\"tooltips\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"tooltip\" title=\"The ability of an infectious disease to pass from animals to humans or vice versa\">zoonotic<\/a><\/span> disease, which can occur through contact with animals. Pregnant women are particularly at risk and should avoid contact with sheep during lambing. It is very uncommon for a human pregnancy to be affected, however the consequences can be extremely serious. Listeriosis can cause miscarriage and stillbirth or cause newborns to be born severely ill. Further information is available here: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/pregnant-women-advised-to-avoid-animals-that-are-giving-birth--2\">https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/pregnant-women-advised-to-avoid-animals-that-are-giving-birth&#8211;2<\/a><\/p>\n<h4>Control and Prevention of Listeriosis<\/h4>\n<p>Awareness of risk factors may be used to develop control measures to reduce animal disease and introduction of <em>L monocytogenes<\/em> into the human food chain (<a href=\"#ref\">Nightingale <em>et al<\/em>., 2005<\/a>). Preventative measures are the most important factors. If possible, avoid feeding silage to sheep and certainly do not feed poor quality silage. If silage is to be fed to sheep, the inclusion of soil in the clamp or big bales must be avoided. Exposure to air should also be avoided (<a href=\"#ref\">Low and Renton, 1985<\/a>). Uneaten silage should be cleaned away from the sheep and animals that have aborted should be isolated.<\/p>\n<p>Although Listeria can survive for up to three months in stored \u00a0livestock manure (<a href=\"#ref\">Nicholson<em> et al<\/em>., 2005<\/a>) and following application on land, the bacteria do not survive when high temperatures are achieved in manure storage\u00a0 (<a href=\"#ref\">Hutchinson <em>et al<\/em>., 2004<\/a>).<br \/>\n<strong><span class=\"responsive\"><\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7159\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Assisted-lambing.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7159\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-7159\" src=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Assisted-lambing-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"Assisted lambing\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Assisted-lambing-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Assisted-lambing-293x220.jpg 293w, https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/Assisted-lambing-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-7159\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Listeriosis is a zoonotic disease that can cause serious complications for pregnant women. It is therefore advised that pregnant women avoid all contact with ewes while they are lambing.<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<h4>Treating Listeriosis<\/h4>\n<p>Treatment response of ovine listerial <span class=\"tooltips\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"tooltip\" title=\"Inflammation of the brain and adjoining cerebral tissue (meninges)\">meningoencephalitis<\/a><\/span> cases is generally considered to be poor <a href=\"#ref\">(Low and Renton, 1985<\/a>; <a href=\"#ref\">Low and\u00a0Donachie, 1991<\/a>, <a href=\"#ref\">Braun <em>et al<\/em>., 2002<\/a>)). Treatment should only be instigated if the ewe is not <span class=\"tooltips\"><a href=\"#\" rel=\"tooltip\" title=\"Lying down\">recumbent<\/a><\/span>. A number of different antimicrobials\u00a0have been recommended by various authors, since <em>L. monocytogenes<\/em> is sensitive to a wide range of agents including penicillins and tetracyclines. Generally the impression is that the choice of antibiotics may be less important than the speed of diagnosis and therapy after the onset of clinical signs. Anti-inflammatories may also be useful.\u00a0<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In heavily pregnant ewes, propylene glycol and rehydration therapy should be started concurrently to prevent a severe energy deficit and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/disease-management\/sheep-diseases\/pregnancy-toxaemia-in-sheep\/\" target=\"_blank\">pregnancy toxaemia<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Listeriosis and Welfare<\/h3>\n<p>Affected sheep should only be considered for treatment if they are in the early stages of the disease; otherwise, they will have to be humanely killed. The veterinary surgeon must make this decision.<\/p>\n<h4>Good Practice Based on Current Knowledge<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>If possible, do not feed silage to sheep<\/li>\n<li>If silage is fed to sheep, make sure it is of high quality and without soil contamination or prolonged air exposure<\/li>\n<li>If silage is fed to sheep, remove leftovers after feeding<\/li>\n<li>It is important that affected sheep are treated with antimicrobials as soon as possible after diagnosis<\/li>\n<li>Recumbent animals must be humanely destroyed<\/li>\n<li>Movement of livestock bedding waste from animal pens to a secondary store, and storage under conditions conducive for increased temperature, is a simple and cost-effective method to rapidly lower levels of zoonotic agents in solid farm wastes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a id=\"ref\"><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"toggle\">\n<div class=\"toggle-title active\">Listeriosis in Sheep References<span><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"toggle-inner\">\n<div id=\"zotpress-4cdb36ff11a4aedc950b48175579f2d8\" class=\"zp-Zotpress zp-Zotpress-Bib wp-block-group\">\n\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_API_USER_ID\" style=\"display: none;\">254757<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_ITEM_KEY\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_COLLECTION_ID\" style=\"display: none;\">SPTUF4IU<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_TAG_ID\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_AUTHOR\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_YEAR\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n        <span class=\"ZP_ITEMTYPE\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n        <span class=\"ZP_ITEM_TYPE\" style=\"display: none;\">items<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_INCLUSIVE\" style=\"display: none;\">1<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_STYLE\" style=\"display: none;\">apa<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_LIMIT\" style=\"display: none;\">0<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_SORTBY\" style=\"display: none;\">author<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_ORDER\" style=\"display: none;\">asc<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_TITLE\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_SHOWIMAGE\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_SHOWTAGS\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_DOWNLOADABLE\" style=\"display: none;\">1<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_NOTES\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_ABSTRACT\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_CITEABLE\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_TARGET\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_URLWRAP\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZP_FORCENUM\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n        <span class=\"ZP_HIGHLIGHT\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/span>\n        <span class=\"ZP_POSTID\" style=\"display: none;\">7876<\/span>\n\t\t<span class=\"ZOTPRESS_PLUGIN_URL\" style=\"display:none;\">https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/wp-content\/plugins\/zotpress\/<\/span>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"zp-List loading\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"zp-SEO-Content\">\n\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .zp-zp-SEO-Content -->\n\t\t<\/div><!-- .zp-List -->\n\t<\/div><!--.zp-Zotpress-->\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":4061,"parent":1605,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7876"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7876"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7876\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11541,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7876\/revisions\/11541"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1605"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4061"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmhealthonline.com\/US\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}