Listeria abortions in sheep on the Accra plains: A Case Report

English

An outbreak of late abortions was recorded in a flock of 121 sheep on the Animal Research Institute field station at Pokoase on the Accra Plains. Fifteen (19.2 per cent) of the 78 ewes were affected. Serological tests excluded the involvement of Brucella spp. Bacterial culture of 27 vaginal and preputial swabs and stomach contents of an aborted foetus yielded Listeria spp. The organism was also isolated from vaginal and preputial swabs of sheep at Achimota and Kade, from where breeding animals had been transferred to Pokoase and Achimota. Abortions were reported at these two stations also, showing that infection had been transmitted from Kade to the other two stations by the breeding sheep. Meningo-encephalitis and septicaemia were not features of the outbreaks. Antibiotic sensitivity test results were used to select long-acting oxytetracycline for treatment of the flock at Pokoase. No more abortions have been reported since then. It is recommended that normal laboratory screening of breeding animals against infectious agents including Listeria spp. should be maintained.

Osei-Somuah, A.; Aning, K. G.; Nartey, P. W. K.; Abbam, J. K.