Parasitic diseases pose a significant threat to the health and productivity of Small Tail Han sheep, with Piroplasmosis being one of the most severe forms. This condition can lead to substantial economic losses for farmers due to its high morbidity and mortality rates. Clinically, affected sheep exhibit symptoms such as high fever, anemia, jaundice, and hemoglobinuria, which collectively indicate a serious systemic infection.
The disease typically occurs from spring to fall, with the highest incidence observed in the autumn season. It usually begins in late March and can last until mid-November. Improved and imported breeds are more vulnerable to infection compared to local sheep. Both adult and young sheep are at higher risk, though younger animals tend to have a higher mortality rate. Affected sheep often show signs of depression, loss of appetite, and cessation of rumination. Their body temperature may rise above 41°C, and they may experience rapid breathing and elevated heart rates, ranging from 120 to 140 beats per minute. Swollen mandibular lymph nodes, along with loose stools containing blood and mucus, are also common. Weight loss is rapid, and physical signs such as drooping ears, difficulty walking, and edema around the eyelids may appear. Eye discharge, conjunctival redness, and occasional bleeding are also observed, along with purulent secretions.
In advanced stages, sheep may bleed from the mouth, produce frothy saliva, and display muscle spasms, including cervical rigidity and neurological symptoms like opisthotonus. Ultimately, the animals succumb to weakness and exhaustion.
Prevention plays a crucial role in controlling Piroplasmosis. During spring and autumn, it's essential to maintain clean sheds and eliminate larvae that survive in cold weather. When shearing sheep in the spring, close observation for lice is necessary, and trichlorfon sprays can be used for treatment. Strict quarantine measures should be enforced for newly introduced animals to prevent the spread of the disease. In endemic areas, prophylactic injections of imidocarb dipropionate are recommended—administered every 15 days at a dose of 2 mg/kg as a 7% aqueous solution via intramuscular injection before the outbreak season.
For treatment, Bernier (a drug containing imidocarb) is administered at 6 mg/kg via deep intramuscular injection every other day for three doses. Sulfadiazine sodium (100 mg/kg), florfenicol (20 mg/kg), and clindamycin (10 mg/kg) can be given intramuscularly, with clindamycin taken orally two or more times daily for three days. Yellow pigment, at a dose of 3–4 mg/kg, can be administered intravenously as a 0.5–1% solution, with repeated use if needed after 2–3 days. For severely ill sheep that have lost their appetite, intravenous fluids such as 10% glucose (200 ml),
Vitamin C (10 ml), and oral administration of Sanwei gavage (100 grams) are recommended.
High-energy animals may benefit from intravenous administration of 5 ml of sodium anaphylactoside and 4 mg of dexamethasone in 500 ml of 5% glucose saline over three days. Severely anemic sheep should receive anti-anemia medications like vitamin B12 and ferrous sulfate to enhance their immunity and support red blood cell regeneration. Early detection and prompt treatment are vital in reducing the impact of this disease on sheep flocks.
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