The serological and microscopic monitoring of a natural outbreak of eperythrozoon outbreak infection in sheep

Abstract

The course of a natural infection of Eperythrozoon ovis in SO ewes and their lambs was monitored by a Complement Fixation Test (OFT) and examination of stained thin blood smears. Evidence of infection was detected in 39 of the SO lambs. Thirty-eight lambs had a serological reaction to E. ovis in the CFT, 17 of these and one other lamb had E. ovis organisms in blood smears. Of the SO ewes, 17 had serological reactions in the CFT; three of these and five others had organisms in blood smears. The ewes appeared to be the source of infection for their lambs and the infection may have been spread by mosquitoes or sandflies that were plentiful at the time.