Bacteriological investigation of sudden sheep mortality in Morocco

Abstract

A bacteriological examination was made of samples from 128 cases of sudden death in sheep from 18 farms for the presence of important bacterial pathogens. Clostridial infections were present in 43 sheep (33.6%), colisepticemia in 24 (18.8%), septic pasteurellosis in 11 (8.6%), other septicemias in 10 (7.8%), 4 (3.1%) had unidentified bacterial infections, and 36 (28.1%) had no important bacteria. Clostridium perfringens types C and D accounted for 35 (34.0%) of isolates, Clostridium sordellii for 14 (13.6%), Clostridium septicum for 4 (3.9%). Escherichia coli (serotypes 078, 0144, 036, 075) accounted for 25 (24.3%) isolates, Pasteurella haemolytica for 11 (10.7%), Streptococcus spp. for 5 (4.8%), Staphylococcus aureus for 3 (2.9%), Actinomyces pyogenes for 2 (1.9%), and unidentified Gram-negative rods for 4 (3.9%). Clostridium sordellii alone or with C. perfringens may be an important pathogen in sudden mortality in sheep since it was recovered from 14 out of 128 sheep. Of 43 sheep with clostridial infections, 17 were vaccinated with a multicomponent vaccine ( C. perfringens types A, B and D, C. septicum and C. novyi) and 26 were unvaccinated animals. These findings indicate the need for improved vaccines or vaccination programs.