Diagnosis and treatment of respiratory disease in adult sheep

The presumptive clinical diagnosis of acute respiratory disease caused by Mannheimia haemolytica and Bibersteinia trehalosi (‘pasteurellosis’) in adult sheep is based upon findings of sudden severe illness, inappetence, pyrexia, marked toxaemia, and tachypnoea consistent with endotoxaemia. Gram-negative infections of other body systems present with broadly similar clinical signs but accurate diagnosis is not important because there is a good response to intravenous oxytetracycline and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy despite the organ system involved. However, it is essential to identify and eliminate the initiating cause, most commonly infection with ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma.