Summary
An outbreak of bacillary haemoglobinuria was recorded in 60 out of 110 sheep in Ludhiana, Punjab, India. The condition was clinically characterised by fever, haemoglobinuria, constipation, weakness of hind quarters followed by recumbency, respiratory distress and death in 16 sheep. Haematological studies revealed moderate to severe degrees of anaemia associated with leucocytosis. Plasma gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase and creatinine phosphokinase activities were significantly higher in haemoglobinuric sheep. Babesiosis and copper poisoning were ruled out on stained blood film examination and from blood mineral profiles, respectively. Post-mortem examination of affected sheep revealed no gross changes. Pure cultures ofClostridium haemolyticum isolated from heart blood, liver, kidney and spleen of freshly killed sheep confirmed the disease. Parenteral administration of procaine penicillin was effective in the treatment of affected sheep.
Résumé
Une épidémie d'hémoglobinurie bacillaire a été rapportée chez 60 sur 110 moutons à Ludhiana Punjab, Inde. L'état cliniques des animaux était caractérisé par de la fièvre, de l'hémoglobinurie, de la constipation, une faiblesse de l'arrière train suivie de décubitus, de détresse respiratoire et de mort chez 16 moutons. Des études hématologiques ont révélé des degrés d'anémie modérés à graves associés à de la leucocytose. Les activités de phosphokinase créatinine et phosphatase alcaline et gamma-glutonyl transferase du plasma ont été significativement plus élevées chez les moutons hémoglobinuriques. Une babésiose et une intoxication au cuivre ont été écartées respectivement à l'examen d'un frottis de sang coloré et des profils minéraux du sang. L'examen post mortem des moutons atteints n'a pas révélé de modifications importantes. Des cultures pures deClostridium haemolyticum isolé du sang du coeur, du foie, des reins et de la rate de moutons récemment abattus ont confirmé la maladie. L'administration parentérale de pénicilline procaïne a traité efficacement les moutons atteints.
Resumen
Ocurrió un brote de hemoglobinuria bacilar en 60 de 110 ovejas en Ludhiana, Punjab, India. La condición se caracterizó por fiebre, bemoglobinuria, constipación, debilidad del tren posterior, seguido de postración, dispnea y muerte en 16 ovejas. Análisis hematológicos mostraron anemia moderada a severa asociada con leucocitosis. La actividad de gamma-glutonyl transferasa, fosfatasa alcalina y creatinina-fosfoquinasa en el plasma fué significativamente mayor en las ovejas hemoglobinúricas. Se descartó babesiosis y envenenamiento por cobre mediante examen de frotis sanguineo y perfiles sanguíneos de minerales, respectivamente. El examen post-mortem de las ovejas afectadas no mostró cambios macroscópicos. Se aislóClostridium haemolyticum de cultivos puros de corazón, sangre, higado, riñón y bazo de ovejas recién sacrificadas, lo cual confirmó la enfermedad. La administración parenteral de penicilina procainica fué efectiva en el tratamiento de las ovejas enfermas.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Blood, D. C. &Radostits, O. M. (1989).Veterinary medicine. 7th ed. Baillière, Tindall, London, p 610.
Carter, G. R. (1990).Diagnostic Procedures in Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology. 5th ed. (Eds G. R. Carter and J. R. Cole Jr.), Academic Press, NY, p 19.
Collee, J. G. &Miles, R. S. (1989).Mackie and Macarty Practical Microbiology vol. II (Eds. J. G. Collee, J. P. Duguid, A. G. Fraser and B. P. Marmion), Longman Singapore Publisher Ltd, Singapore, p 121.
Jain, N. C. (1986),Schalm's Veterinary Haematology. 4th ed. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia, USA, p 20.
Kaneko, J. J. (1989).Clinical Biochemistry of Domestic Animals. 4th ed. Academic Press, NY, p 338.
Kidder, D. E. &McCullagh, K. G. (1980).Scientific Foundations of Veterinary Medicine. 1st ed. (Eds. A. T. Phillipson, L. W. Hall and W. R. Pritchard). William Heinemann Medical Book Ltd, London, p 277.
Pope, A. L. (1971). A review of recent mineral research with sheep.Journal of Animal Science,33, 1332–1343.
Power, E. P., White, V. J., Mackessy, E. J. &Ward, J. (1987). Bacillary haemoglobinuria in cattle: Confirmation of the disease in Ireland.Irish Veterinary Journal,41, 255–257.
Raymond, S. &Wilkinson, J. H. (1969).Clinical Chemistry Theory and Practice. Academic Press, NY.
Rosado, E. N. (1982). Prevalence ofClostridium haemolyticum in Zebu herds affected by icterohaemoglobinuria.Ciencia Y Tecnica en la Agricultura, Veterinaria,4, 7–14.
Snedecor, G. W. &Cochran, W. G. (1968).Statistical methods. 6th ed. Allied Pacific, Bombay.
Urquiaga, F. R., Perezotero, J. J., Ramos, R. R., Renaud, J. A., Fernandez, H., Betancourt, X., Troncoso, M., Oliva, J., Jiminez, T., Salabarria, F. &Prieto, R. (1982). Anatomy and histology of bacterial haemoglobinuria in cattle with reference to diagnosis.Ciencia Y Tecnica en la Agricultura, Veterinaria,4, 55–64.
Williams, B. M. (1964).Clostridium oedematiens infection (Black disease and bacillary haemoglobinuria) of cattle in Mid Wales.Veterinary Record,76, 591–596.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Randhawa, S.S., Sharma, D.K., Randhawa, C.S. et al. An outbreak of bacillary haemoglobinuria in sheep in India. Trop Anim Health Prod 27, 31–36 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02236332
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02236332