Eradication of ovine progressive pneumonia from sheep flocks

Two management methods for controlling ovine progressive pneumonia in sheep were evaluated. By a test and cull method, wherein seropositive sheep were culled from the flock, the causative virus was eradicated from a closed flock and controlled in an open flock. By an isolate-and-test method, wherein lambs were removed from infected ewes before nursing and reared in isolation, the virus was eradicated in 1 of 2 attempts to establish virus-free flocks. It was concluded that either method should be effective in controlling ovine progressive pneumonia. Results indicated that annual serologic monitoring of a virus-free flock would be necessary to ensure that the virus-free status is maintained.