An observational study involving ewe postmortem examination at a fallen stock collection centre to inform flock health interventions

Lovatt, Fiona; Strugnell, Ben

doi:10.1136/vr.101628

Cited by 26 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Disease status, age and geographical area all have an effect on the prevalence obtained in surveys for OPA. Lovatt and Strugnell (2013) investigated causes of death of ‘fallen ewes’ (ewes that died naturally on-farm) and found a relatively high percentage of OPA-positive animals (6.2%) reflecting that animals more likely to be clinically diseased were examined [ 31 ]. The current study focussed on cull animals, which, while considered clinically healthy on ante-mortem inspection, likely have health issues which are lead to loss of condition and hence culling.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First confirmation by PCR of Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus in Ireland and prevalence of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma in adult sheep at slaughter

et al. 2017

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BackgroundOvine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA), caused by Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV), is characterised by the development of invariably fatal lung tumours primarily in adult sheep. High infection rates and disease prevalence can develop during initial infection of flocks, leading to on-farm economic losses and animal welfare issues in sheep with advanced disease. The disease has been reported in Ireland and is notifiable, but the presence of JSRV has never been confirmed using molecular methods in this country. Additionally, due to the difficulties in ante-mortem diagnosis (especially of latently-infected animals, or those in the very early stages of disease), accurate information regarding national prevalence and distribution is unavailable. This study aimed to confirm the presence of JSRV in Ireland and to obtain estimates regarding prevalence and distribution by means of an abattoir survey utilising gross examination, histopathology, JSRV-specific reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and SU protein specific immunohistochemistry (IHC) to examine the lungs of adult sheep.ResultsLungs from 1911 adult sheep were examined macroscopically in the abattoir and 369 were removed for further testing due to the presence of gross lesions of any kind. All 369 were subject to histopathology and RT-PCR, and 46 to IHC. Thirty-one lungs (31/1911, 1.6%) were positive for JSRV by RT-PCR and/or IHC but only ten cases of OPA were confirmed (10/1911, 0.5%) Four lung tumours not associated with JSRV were also identified. JSRV-positive sheep tended to cluster within the same flocks, and JSRV-positive sheep were identified in the counties of Donegal, Kerry, Kilkenny, Offaly, Tipperary, Waterford and Wicklow.ConclusionsThe presence of JSRV has been confirmed in the Republic of Ireland for the first time using molecular methods (PCR) and IHC. In addition, an estimate of OPA prevalence in sheep at slaughter and information regarding distribution of JSRV infection has been obtained. The prevalence estimate appears similar to that of the United Kingdom (UK). Results also indicate that the virus has a diverse geographical distribution throughout Ireland. These data highlights the need for further research to establish national control and monitoring strategies.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13620-017-0111-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First confirmation by PCR of Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus in Ireland and prevalence of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma in adult sheep at slaughter

et al. 2017

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“…However, the majority of sheep farmers questioned knew nothing about OPA so were unaware if their flocks were affected. A recent study of 106 fallen stock in Northern England found 5.6 per cent of sheep had gross lesions of OPA (Lovatt and Strugnell 2013).…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (Jaagsiekte) in a UK slaughterhouse sheep study

Cousens

Gibson²,

Finlayson

et al. 2015

Veterinary Record

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“…While poor dentition was considered to be the major contributing factor to death in 2/106 adult sheep examined at a fallen stock collection centre in the United Kingdom, OA of the TMJ was not recorded despite many of the sheep dying in an emaciated state (Lovatt and Strugnell, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Osteoarthritis of the temporo-mandibular joint in free-living Soay sheep on St Kilda

Arthur

Watt

Nussey

et al. 2015

The Veterinary Journal

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An observational study involving ewe postmortem examination at a fallen stock collection centre to inform flock health interventions

Cited by 26 publications

References 7 publications

First confirmation by PCR of Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus in Ireland and prevalence of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma in adult sheep at slaughter

First confirmation by PCR of Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus in Ireland and prevalence of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma in adult sheep at slaughter

Prevalence of ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (Jaagsiekte) in a UK slaughterhouse sheep study

Osteoarthritis of the temporo-mandibular joint in free-living Soay sheep on St Kilda

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