Jaagsiekte

The pulmonary or Jaagsiekte is caused by retroviruses chronic infectious disease of the lung in sheep, rare in goats, which is characterized by nodular changes in the lungs. It occurs in certain areas reinforced ( endemic), and ends in death. In Switzerland there is mandatory reporting of this animal disease.

Pathogen

The causative agent of pulmonary adenomatosis, the Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus is a beta retrovirus. Excretion is via pulmonary secretions transmission on the air ( airborne spread ) via aerosols.

Clinical picture

The incubation period is one to five years. Initial symptoms include a rapid breathing ( tachypnea ) and occasional paroxysmal moist cough. In the further course, there is shortness of breath (dyspnea ), aqueous eyes and nasal discharge and emaciation with retained appetite. If an animal is raised on the hind legs, flows increasingly frothy liquid from the nose.

The differential diagnosis is especially bacterial pneumonia, maedi and lung worm infestation are excluded.

The diagnosis can be made as suspected from the clinical picture. A direct or indirect (antibody ) Virus detection can be made from lung secretions obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage. Pathologically badly collapsed lung areas and gray, sharply demarcated nodes show ( adenocarcinomas ).

Combat

A therapy or vaccination is not possible. Therefore, the control aims to develop pulmonary - free stocks.