Winter scours in sheep - an obsolete term

Authors: Jopp A, Orr MB
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 37, Issue 1, pp 38-39, Mar 1989
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Abdomen, Alimentary system/gastroenterology, Animal remedies/veterinary medicines, Anthelmintics, Parasite control, Parasites - internal, Disease/defect, Treatment/therapy
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: In 1980, we described a condition affecting sheep in the Waipukurau area which local farmers called `winter scours`. Outbreaks typically occurred four or five days after anthelmintic dosing or a spell of bad weather. From 10 to 100 percent of the mob showed depression, anorexia, profuse watery diarrhoea and fever. Mortality was generally around five percent but most affected animals recovered spontaneously. Treatment with oral or parenteral sulphonamides appeared to reduce the mortality rate. Post mortem examinations showed no consistent abnormalities but in most cases there were swollen pale kidneys. Laboratory examinations consistently showed dramatic histological lesions in the kidney and colon. In the kidney, there was a severe nephropathy with dilation of tubules and flattening of tubule epithelium. In the colon there were many distended glands with flattened epithelium. Since this report there has…

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