Experiments in border disease: I. Transmission, pathology and some serological aspects of the experimental disease

Abstract

Border disease of lambs has been reproduced experimentally in very high incidence by the inoculation of pregnant ewes with a brain/spleen suspension from affected lambs. The causal agent has not been identified. Abortion was a significant component of th experimental syndrome, but live-born lambs showed the typical clinical and pathological changes associated with the natural disease. In addition, cystic lesions of the cerebral white matter were found. Grossly these resembled the cystic lesions in swayback, but were distinguishable microscopically. Precolostral sera of 14 out of 20 affected lambs and foetuses contained 7S gamma globulin.