Diagnosis of clinical cases of the nervous form of Maedi-Visna in 4- and 6-month-old lambs.
The nervous form of Maedi-Visna (MV) infection was diagnosed in four lambs aged 4 and 6 months, belonging to three different Assaf flocks that were managed intensively for milk and meat production. The animals presented with hindleg ataxia that rapidly progressed to complete recumbency. Lesions consisted of a moderate to severe non-purulent encephalitis affecting mainly the cerebellar peduncles. MV virus was demonstrated in the damaged tissues by immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction. The investigation demonstrated that the clinical presentation of the nervous form of MV which is reported to occur in adult sheep can also be observed in young animals.
Benavides
Julio
J
Departamento de Patología Animal, Medicina Animal (Anatomía Patológica), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain.
García-Pariente
Carlos
C
Ferreras
M Carmen
MC
Fuertes
Miguel
M
García-Marín
J Francisco
JF
Pérez
Valentín
V
D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology; D011021:Pneumonia, Progressive Interstitial, of Sheep / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D012756:Sheep; D014790:Visna-maedi virus