Disease conditions in slaughtered sheep from small holder flocks in Peru

J. A. Ellis, A. E.V. Chavera, J. C. DeMartini

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

In order to determine the prevalence of various disease conditions in the flocks of indigenous and crossbred sheep of small holders in the Central and Southern Sierra of Peru, an examination of carcasses of generally clinically healthy animals was performed during the dry season in five regional slaughterhouses. These post-mortem examinations revealed a high prevalence of parasitism in the respiratory and digestive systems. Approximately 51 % of animals examined had lungworms and associated pneumonic lesions of variable severity. Hydatidosis resulting from Echinococcus granulosis infestation was found in 8.3% of lungs and 6.5% of livers examined. Fasciola hepatica was present in the biliary system of 21% of animals examined and was usually associated with variable degrees of fibrosis. Chronic lung disease due to ovine pulmonary carcinoma was found in 1.7% of sheep examined. The prevalence of this pulmonary tumor in the Criolla and crossbred sheep from the small holder flocks was similar to that reported in the flocks of the region's large cooperative farms that are populated by 'improved' breeds of sheep. Thirteen percent of 54 sheep tested had antibodies to ovine lentiviruses, but no lesions of lymphoid interstitial pneumonia were seen.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)243-250
Number of pages8
JournalSmall Ruminant Research
Volume10
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1993

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This project was part of the United States Agency for International Development Title XII USAID-funded Small Ruminants Collaborative Research Support Program under Grant No. AID/DSAN/XII-G00-49 in Collaboration with Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agraria, Peru. The authors acknowledge the assistance of Dr. Enrique Ameghino of Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru and Dr. Alberto Laos of SAIS Tupac Amaru. OvLV antigen was kindly provided by Dr. R.C. Cutlip, United States Department of Agriculture/National Animal Disease Laboratory, Ames, IA, USA.

Copyright:
Copyright 2014 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

  • Disease conditions
  • Ovine pulmonary carcinoma
  • Peru
  • Sheep
  • Verminous pneumonia

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