FARMING WORLD “SCABBY MOUTH”

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20917, 23 September 1939, Page 23 (Supplement)

FARMING WORLD “SCABBY MOUTH”

CONTAGIOUS DISEASE SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT ' “Numbers of farmers have recently , found that parts of their tlocks are | affected with scabby mouth, and its I spread in the flock is beu'.g encouraged by the necessity for giving the I sheep hay from feeders ” said Mr W. ! D. Blair, superintendent of the Livestock Division of the Department of Agriculture, in a sta*?'aen. lo The Press recently. “Scabby mouth or, mor> correctly, contagious ecthyma, is cuis*d by an ultra-visible germ or vim-*. As its name implies, it is a coir.agi >us disease, and may attack sheep of any age, although lambs are most susceptible. Recovery from an attack ioi’es an immunity. Its effects among dry sheep are not very serious as a rule, fatal'Les rarely occurring. Nevertheless, it does interfere with the sheep's ability to feed and loss of condition merefore results. When an outbreak occurs among ewes with lambs at foot, it assumes a more serious aspect, however, for the disease may spread from the lamb’s mouth to the teats, udder, and even the thighs of the ewe, | sometimes resulting in gangrenous mastitis. Symptoms “In the case of young lambs, the diseased condition of the mouth greatly interferes with the act of sucking; the lamb shows a reluctance to grasp the teat and when it does suck the mouth becomes full of foam. If the ewe's udder is affected she resents the attentions of the lamb, and thus a serious check is likely to occur at a very important time. The infection apparently gains entrance through minute pricks, which, although not visible, often occur while tbe sheep is grazing, or taking food from the feeder used by infected sheep, or, in the case of young lambs, while they are playing along gorse ■ fences. The fTrst symptom is the i appearance of a blister-like swelling round the mouth. This soon breaks and scabs develop from tbe subsequent discharges. The outside of the lips is most commonly affected, but often the disease involves a considerable portion of the face and the inside of the lips, gums and tongue. Because of the physical appearance of the condition it is often mistaken by farmers for facial eczema. It must be pointed out that there is no connection between the two diseases. As already mentioned, the udders of ewes may become affected also. If oo complications dcciir, and the sheep are not treated, the scabs drop off in abotft three weeks. These scabs may retain infection for a long time and cause fresh outbreaks at a future date. Treatment “In treatment, the first essential is to remove all clean sheep to a fresh paddock, because of the infectious nature of the disease. That done, the scabs must be removed from the affected sheep and burnt, and it is verv necessary that the removal of the scabs be done thoroughly. The area should now be dressed with a weak antiseptic solution, such as that made by dissolving Condy’s crystals; or a bluestone solution of one ounce of bluestone to a pint of water (i 5 per cent solution) ; or if preferred an ointment made by mixing one ounce of sulphur, two ounces of Stockholm tar with eight ounces of lard. “This disease responds readily to treatment and every effort should be made to check its spread. Sheep can be vaccinated against this disease, and a limited quantity of vaccine is now available from the Department of Agriculture for use on unaffected sheep on properties where an outbreak is commencing. Owners will be well advised to keep a sharp lookout for its appearance among their ewes, and to take the measures recommended so as to prevent the illeffects entailed by its spread.’’