Hairy Shaker Disease of lambs: acquired immunity, abortion and transmission via mucous membranes

Authors: Manktelow BW, Porter WL, Lewis KHC
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 20, Issue 1-2, pp 1-3, Jan 1972
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Abortion/stillbirth, Disease transmission, Epidemiology, Reproduction, Viral, Nervous system/neurology, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Immune system/immunology, Reproduction - female
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: Hairy shaker disease of lambs in New Zealand has been described by Manktelow et al (1969) who showed it to be transmissible by the inoculation of ewes in early pregnancy with material derived from affected lambs. In this and other respects so far studied, the disease closely resembles Border disease as seen in lambs in the United Kingdom (Hughes et al 1959). The present paper describes an experiment conducted in the 1969 lambing season which provided further information on hairy shaker disease with regard to immunity, mode of transmission and the occurrence of abortions. A preliminary report on this work has already been published (Lewis et al 1970). The obiects of the experiment were: To determine whether ewes were rendered immune to the disease by artificial infection during the previous pregnancy; To attempt transmission via intact mucous membranes; To assess the effect of contact between inoculated and non-inoculated ewes during pregnancy; To study abortion of infected ewes. In the experiment reported by Manktelow et al (1969) 21 out of 51 inoculated ewes failed to lamb. However, it was not known if these ewes had aborted.

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