Role of carriers in the transmission of pneumonia in bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis)
In the absence of livestock contact, recurring lamb mortality in bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) populations previously exposed to pneumonia indicates the likely presence of carriers of pneumonia-causing pathogens, and possibly inadequate maternally derived immunity. To investigate this problem we c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Company of Biologists
2016-06-01
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| Series: | Biology Open |
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| Online Access: | http://bio.biologists.org/content/5/6/745 |
| _version_ | 1819071031595237376 |
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| author | Bindu Raghavan Kayla Erickson Abirami Kugadas Sai A. Batra Douglas R. Call Margaret A. Davis William J. Foreyt Subramaniam Srikumaran |
| author_facet | Bindu Raghavan Kayla Erickson Abirami Kugadas Sai A. Batra Douglas R. Call Margaret A. Davis William J. Foreyt Subramaniam Srikumaran |
| author_sort | Bindu Raghavan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the absence of livestock contact, recurring lamb mortality in bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) populations previously exposed to pneumonia indicates the likely presence of carriers of pneumonia-causing pathogens, and possibly inadequate maternally derived immunity. To investigate this problem we commingled naïve, pregnant ewes (n=3) with previously exposed rams (n=2). Post-commingling, all ewes and lambs born to them acquired pneumonia-causing pathogens (leukotoxin-producing Pasteurellaceae and Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae), with subsequent lamb mortality between 4-9 weeks of age. Infected ewes became carriers for two subsequent years and lambs born to them succumbed to pneumonia. In another experiment, we attempted to suppress the carriage of leukotoxin-producing Pasteurellaceae by administering an antibiotic to carrier ewes, and evaluated lamb survival. Lambs born to both treatment and control ewes (n=4 each) acquired pneumonia and died. Antibody titers against leukotoxin-producing Pasteurellaceae in all eight ewes were ‘protective’ (>1:800 and no apparent respiratory disease); however their lambs were either born with comparatively low titers, or with high (but non-protective) titers that declined rapidly within 2-8 weeks of age, rendering them susceptible to fatal disease. Thus, exposure to pneumonia-causing pathogens from carrier ewes, and inadequate titers of maternally derived protective antibodies, are likely to render bighorn lambs susceptible to fatal pneumonia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T17:15:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0c230f68729848c789d94c97ef49efb7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2046-6390 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T17:15:22Z |
| publishDate | 2016-06-01 |
| publisher | The Company of Biologists |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biology Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-0c230f68729848c789d94c97ef49efb72022-12-21T18:56:18ZengThe Company of BiologistsBiology Open2046-63902016-06-015674575510.1242/bio.018234018234Role of carriers in the transmission of pneumonia in bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis)Bindu Raghavan0Kayla Erickson1Abirami Kugadas2Sai A. Batra3Douglas R. Call4Margaret A. Davis5William J. Foreyt6Subramaniam Srikumaran7 Department of Veterinary Microbiology & Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163, USA Department of Veterinary Microbiology & Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163, USA Department of Veterinary Microbiology & Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163, USA Department of Veterinary Microbiology & Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163, USA Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163, USA Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163, USA Department of Veterinary Microbiology & Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163, USA Department of Veterinary Microbiology & Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99163, USA In the absence of livestock contact, recurring lamb mortality in bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) populations previously exposed to pneumonia indicates the likely presence of carriers of pneumonia-causing pathogens, and possibly inadequate maternally derived immunity. To investigate this problem we commingled naïve, pregnant ewes (n=3) with previously exposed rams (n=2). Post-commingling, all ewes and lambs born to them acquired pneumonia-causing pathogens (leukotoxin-producing Pasteurellaceae and Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae), with subsequent lamb mortality between 4-9 weeks of age. Infected ewes became carriers for two subsequent years and lambs born to them succumbed to pneumonia. In another experiment, we attempted to suppress the carriage of leukotoxin-producing Pasteurellaceae by administering an antibiotic to carrier ewes, and evaluated lamb survival. Lambs born to both treatment and control ewes (n=4 each) acquired pneumonia and died. Antibody titers against leukotoxin-producing Pasteurellaceae in all eight ewes were ‘protective’ (>1:800 and no apparent respiratory disease); however their lambs were either born with comparatively low titers, or with high (but non-protective) titers that declined rapidly within 2-8 weeks of age, rendering them susceptible to fatal disease. Thus, exposure to pneumonia-causing pathogens from carrier ewes, and inadequate titers of maternally derived protective antibodies, are likely to render bighorn lambs susceptible to fatal pneumonia.http://bio.biologists.org/content/5/6/745Bighorn sheepPneumoniaCarrierAntibodiesPasteurellaceaeMycoplasma |
| spellingShingle | Bindu Raghavan Kayla Erickson Abirami Kugadas Sai A. Batra Douglas R. Call Margaret A. Davis William J. Foreyt Subramaniam Srikumaran Role of carriers in the transmission of pneumonia in bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) Biology Open Bighorn sheep Pneumonia Carrier Antibodies Pasteurellaceae Mycoplasma |
| title | Role of carriers in the transmission of pneumonia in bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) |
| title_full | Role of carriers in the transmission of pneumonia in bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) |
| title_fullStr | Role of carriers in the transmission of pneumonia in bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Role of carriers in the transmission of pneumonia in bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) |
| title_short | Role of carriers in the transmission of pneumonia in bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) |
| title_sort | role of carriers in the transmission of pneumonia in bighorn sheep ovis canadensis |
| topic | Bighorn sheep Pneumonia Carrier Antibodies Pasteurellaceae Mycoplasma |
| url | http://bio.biologists.org/content/5/6/745 |
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