Possible toxoplasmosis

[Macsky]

Ewes are due to start lambing in around 10 weeks and I’m noticing the odd one that looks to have aborted (bloody tails). It’s a flock that I took on the management of in March last year, which has suffered poor scanning %ages for a few years, there were obvious issues with fluke and ticks but these have been resolved, toxo has been mentioned by others previously and I wouldn’t be surprised if it is causing me problems, it’s frustrating after getting them in better shape.

There are no cats that I am aware of on the place tho, but there is hay bought in for the cows that may well be exposed to cats previously. Ewes are just in 1/2lb sbp daily.

Can Toxo be self sustaining in a flock after establishment without cats?

I’m planning on organising the vet to blood test the yield ewes the day of/shortly after scanning to try and get a diagnosis.

Would deccox buckets be any use this close to lambing?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I’ll stand corrected but I wouldn’t think toxo would affect them 10 weeks off lambing...ime it’s closer to the due date
Happy to be corrected tho

 

[Nithsdale]

Get the ones with bloody tails gathered. Get bloods taken. Toxo and Enzo blood screening is free through Flock Check (ask your vet).

You need to find out...

 

[neilo]

I’ll stand corrected but I wouldn’t think toxo would affect them 10 weeks off lambing...ime it’s closer to the due date
Happy to be corrected tho

No, it can cause problems any time, even before scanning.

 

[GreenerGrass]

Can Toxo be self sustaining in a flock after establishment without cats?

No, it requires cats. But how can you guarantee no cats cross your fields or any fodder the number of Toxo oocysts in a single dropping would be enough to infect hundreds of sheep, and cats roam miles. Lottery game in my opinion. I'd vaccinate any replacements tbh.
If it is Toxo and you took on the sheep in march then they've got it under your ownership if they get infected before pregnancy they get immunity (likely lifelong).

 

[Macsky]

So there’s no sheep to sheep transmission of toxo?

 

[Macsky]

Get the ones with bloody tails gathered. Get bloods taken. Toxo and Enzo blood screening is free through Flock Check (ask your vet).

You need to find out...

I’m only seeing one at a time, and it’s been raining every day this year, the blood is gone the next day ??‍

 

[Macsky]

No, it requires cats. But how can you guarantee no cats cross your fields or any fodder the number of Toxo oocysts in a single dropping would be enough to infect hundreds of sheep, and cats roam miles. Lottery game in my opinion. I'd vaccinate any replacements tbh.
If it is Toxo and you took on the sheep in march then they've got it under your ownership if they get infected before pregnancy they get immunity (likely lifelong).

The ewe hoggs are being away wintered for the first time this year, if I get a confirmation of toxo they will definitely be vaccinated before tupping this year!

 

[Jerry]

So there’s no sheep to sheep transmission of toxo?

I’m lead to believe there is via the fluids at the time of abortion.

Has to be close contact with said fluids.

 

[Nithsdale]

I’m only seeing one at a time, and it’s been raining every day this year, the blood is gone the next day ??‍

Doesn't matter - get them caught and fetched in somewhere as soon as you see any bloody...

Wait til you've got 5 or 6 the get the vet to take bloods.

If you want an answer, it's what you need to do

 

[Macsky]

I’m lead to believe there is via the fluids at the time of abortion.

Has to be close contact with said fluids.

Like when rushing around when the feed is thrown in front of them.
Also in the last couple of years I know that it has been the younger sheep, especially gimmers that have scanned the worst, but a fair bit of that could be put down to being underdeveloped at tupping.

 

[GreenerGrass]

So there’s no sheep to sheep transmission of toxo?

Not year to year no, your question was is it self sustaining in sheep after establishment without cats and answer is no it needs cats. But as per previous within a lambing season if a ewe or a human for that matter gets fluids then always a chance, although very close to lambing it doesn't have time to affect the unborn lambs.

 

[Pigken]

Are rats carriers or just cats?

 

[An ancient git]

Been blitzed with Toxo in a past life !! They used to say it was cat pee etc when feeding at a critical stage of pregnancy ; then Boffins changed it .... Ewes can pick Toxy up from environment ...... So it's a rubbish job !
Gave up Toxovaxing years ago , and not had a prob since ..... (hold breath for this season !!)

 

[Lili]

Have a look on the NADIS Animal Health forum on here ( next one down after Pig's and Poultry) There is plenty of information on abortion on the Sheep Diseases thread

 

[tepapa]

Are rats carriers or just cats?

It's carried by mice. Young cats are only an intermediate host. They catch it themselves as the start to hunt and spread it by the thousands of millions in their feaces. The kittens will recover after a few weeks but it's too late by then as the toxo will be in the environment in massive quantities.
Cats like to use nice places to do their daily needs and as such contaminate feed and fodder. Ewes are then usually fed extra feed during winter which coincides with mid to late pregnancy and you get abortion or weak lambs at birth. Infection early in pregnancy will usually see more empty ewes by lambing or lambing later if they've aborted and re taken the tup.

 

[MJT]

As others have said get them blood tested, you won’t be able to stop them aborting but it will put your mind at rest . Had bad outbreak pre scanning a few years ago with over 100 ewes slipping lambs before scanning . You won’t be able to do anything about the ones this year but can vaccinate from then on.

 

[Macsky]

It's carried by mice. Young cats are only an intermediate host. They catch it themselves as the start to hunt and spread it by the thousands of millions in their feaces. The kittens will recover after a few weeks but it's too late by then as the toxo will be in the environment in massive quantities.
Cats like to use nice places to do their daily needs and as such contaminate feed and fodder. Ewes are then usually fed extra feed during winter which coincides with mid to late pregnancy and you get abortion or weak lambs at birth. Infection early in pregnancy will usually see more empty ewes by lambing or lambing later if they've aborted and re taken the tup.

Would mice in the feed store be a possible source?

 

[tepapa]

Would mice in the feed store be a possible source?

Mice are the source but you need the kittens to complete the life cycle.

 

[Devil's advocate]

Can wood pigeon dropping on fodder crops be a source.