8/9/2023: 

Every year, GD conducts pathological examinations of 100 to 150 aborted or stillborn lambs. Abortion, premature births, stillborn and weak lambs can have infectious and non-infectious causes.

The main pathogens of abortion in the Netherlands are Listeria spp., Campylobacter spp., Chlamydia spp. and Toxoplasma gondii. The number of animals submitted for abortion diagnostics is not representative of the population of small ruminants in the Netherlands. Since 2022, monitoring of abortion in small ruminants has been extended, by giving selected farms as part of the monitoring of Brucella melitensis the possibility of one-off, low threshold abortion diagnostics free of charge, when the farmer is confronted with abortion.
50 farmers made use of this option last spring. The contribution made by this supplementary monitoring to awareness and familiarity with zoonoses has become apparent from the fact that farmers contact the Veekijker to discuss the results. In one or two cases, the Veekijker was approached  following a confirmed submission of Yersini pseudotuberculosis. The sheep farmers concerned requested information because their wife was pregnant. Abortion in sheep and goats is governed by legislation (see www.nvwa.nl). 

You can also read this article in the highlights report small ruminants of June 2023

In this report you can also find more information on:

• Reporting the birth of excessive single lambs at sheep farms
• Neurological symptoms in spring
• Questions regarding foot rot in sheep and lambs
• Rumen problems in young kids and lambs
• Black leg following prostaglandin injection in goats
• Alertness to liver fluke due to wet spring
• Animal health barometer Small Ruminants

Highlights report small ruminants June 2023