An overview of Brucella ovis infection in New Zealand

Abstract

Extract Brucella ovis is a bacterial disease that causes epididymitis and reduced fertility of rams. It is an important cause of ram wastage in sheep flocks in most parts of the world with the exception of Great Britain (Lawrence 1961). The earliest report of disease caused by the organism now known as B. ovis was from the Gisborne region of New Zealand, where abortion in ewes and epididymitis in rams was documented (McFarlane et al 1952). The following year, reports emerged from New Zealand and Australia of a Brucella-like organism or a Brucella mutant causing epididymitis in rams (Buddie and Boyes 1953; Simmons and Hall 1953). The organism was characterised at the Wallaceville Animal Research Station, Upper Hutt, New Zealand, and named Brucella ovis (Buddie 1956).