The Sunday News
THIS week we will look at one of the most prevalent diseases that affect mostly goats and sheep farmers. This is the pulpy kidney disease which is also known as the overeating disease or enterotoxemia.
Pulpy kidney (enterotoxaemia) is a disease of sheep, goats and cattle. It occurs when a bacterium that normally inhabits the animal’s intestines without causing problems begins to multiply and produce a toxin that poisons the animal.
The bacterium, Clostridium perfringens type D, can build up when there is a sudden change to a low-fibre, high-carbohydrate diet.
This can occur when sheep or goats are moved onto lush, rapidly growing pasture or cereal crops, or when they are fed grain. Sheep and goats are more likely to produce too much Clostridium perfringens types C & D in the gut, and suffer from enterotoxemia, during conditions such as when kids and lambs excessively consume milk or feed with high quantities of grain or as a consequence of heavy infestations of gastrointestinal parasites, such as nematodes and coccidian. It can also occur when animals have a diet rich in grains and low in dry matter or when animals have any condition or disease that slows down the peristalsis. Pulpy kidney most commonly occurs in rapidly growing un-weaned or weaned lambs or kids, on lush pasture or grain.
In older sheep or goats, pulpy kidney is most likely to occur just after they are moved to good feed from poorer feed.
However, the disease can occur at any time. Signs of pulpy kidney may differ slightly between older animals and young ones. In young animals the first sign is the death of animals which are in good condition. They are found dead, often lying on their side with limbs extended and head thrown back. The animals die quickly with convulsions.
Other signs can include sudden loss of appetite, bloating, lack of rumen activity and rumination; depression and a drunken appearance.
As it progresses the animal becomes unable to stand and lies on its side, making paddling movements. It also develops fever, producing watery and bloody diarrhoea.
Sick goats are usually those in good condition. Within a few hours of death, the urine will have a high glucose concentration, and the kidneys become soft and pulpy. Other lesions may include fluid in the lungs and heart sac and haemorrhages on internal surfaces.
Post-mortem signs in dead animals include haemorrhages under the skin and on the heart and kidney, blood-tinged fluid sometimes with soft jelly-like clots in the sac around the heart.
Small intestines tear easily and their contents are sparse and creamy. The carcass decomposes within a few hours of death and the kidneys usually decompose more rapidly than the other organs and become dark and jelly-like, hence the name “pulpy kidney”. However, sheep can die from this disease without the kidneys becoming pulpy.
Treatment is through use of fluid therapy providing mixed electrolyte solution with bicarbonate to counter shock, dehydration and acidosis.
Antibiotic therapy may be helpful in reducing bacterial growth. Administering anti-bloating medication can also be very helpful. Using probiotics after treatment with antibiotics to encourage repopulation of the microflora in the rumen and guts is also important.
At the first sign of an enterotoxemia outbreak in a herd, the remaining kids should be given injections of an antitoxin.
When the disease is first diagnosed, vaccinate the affected group immediately then turn them on to poorer feed or hay for at least two weeks, until immunity develops.
If pulpy kidney occurs in a previously vaccinated flock, give an immediate booster dose to restore immunity and prevent further losses.
A change in diet alone will usually stop an outbreak, but without vaccination the disease could reappear later. To prevent pulpy kidney all animals in a herd should be vaccinated against enterotoxemia.
Vaccination will reduce the chances that animals will contract enterotoxemia. Animals should be given a boosting vaccine in the last two-three weeks of pregnancy and kids should receive adequate colostrum to ensure they obtain a protective level of passive protection.
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