An outbreak of bacillary haemoglobinuria in sheep in India

An outbreak of bacillary haemoglobinuria was recorded in 60 out of 110 sheep in Ludhiana, Punjab, India. The condition was clinically characterised by fever, haemoglobinuria, constipation, weakness of hind quarters followed by recumbency, respiratory distress and death in 16 sheep. Haematological studies revealed moderate to severe degrees of anaemia associated with leucocytosis. Plasma gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase and creatinine phosphokinase activities were significantly higher in haemoglobinuric sheep. Babesiosis and copper poisoning were ruled out on stained blood film examination and from blood mineral profiles, respectively. Post-mortem examination of affected sheep revealed no gross changes. Pure cultures of Clostridium haemolyticum isolated from heart blood, liver, kidney and spleen of freshly killed sheep confirmed the disease. Parenteral administration of procaine penicillin was effective in the treatment of affected sheep.