Isolation of parainfluenza virus type 3 from pneumonic lambs

Authors: Davies DH
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 28, Issue 7, pp 148, Jul 1980
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Notifiable organisms/exotic disease, Viral, Respiratory system, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Pneumonia/pleurisy
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: Serological evidence indicates an association between parainfluenza virus type 3 (PI₃) infection and the onset of some outbreaks of pneumonia in lambs. This virus has also been shown experimentally to enhance infection with Pasteurella haemolytica thus producing pneumonia. However, the virus has only rarely been isolated from pneumonic lungs. In New Zealand the only previous isolation of PI₃ was from the nasal secretions of lambs with purulent nasal discharge and in some cases pneumonic lesions. This letter describes the isolation of PI₃ from pneumonic lesions of lambs at slaughter. Pneumonic lesions were observed in 90% of a line of lambs slaughtered in March 1980. These lambs were reported to be growing poorly, some were coughing and 90% had facial eczema lesions in their livers…

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