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1 October 1984 PATHOLOGIC CHANGES AND MICROORGANISMS FOUND IN BIGHORN SHEEP DURING A STRESS-RELATED DIE-OFF
T. R. Spraker, C. P. Hibler, G. G. Schoonveld, W. S. Adney
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Abstract

An all-age die-off of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis c. canadensis Shaw) occurred from late October 1980 through March 1981 in Waterton Canyon, Colorado, with a loss of 75 to 85% of the sheep. The cause of death was a subacute to chronic bronchopneumonia and the primary etiologic agents isolated from the respiratory system were a Pasteurella sp., P. multocida, Corynebacterium pyogenes, and Protostrongylus stilesi Dikmans, 1931. The underlying predisposing factors that initiated this die-off were believed to be related to multiple chronic environmental stressors associated with the building of a dam which included human contact, vehicular traffic, atmospheric dust, noise and harassment. The die-off was succeeded by a 100% lamb mortality the following summer and a 67% lamb mortality the next two summers. The pneumonia found in these lambs was similar to that found in adult sheep during the previous die-off, except that mature lungworms were absent.

Spraker, Hibler, Schoonveld, and Adney: PATHOLOGIC CHANGES AND MICROORGANISMS FOUND IN BIGHORN SHEEP DURING A STRESS-RELATED DIE-OFF
T. R. Spraker, C. P. Hibler, G. G. Schoonveld, and W. S. Adney "PATHOLOGIC CHANGES AND MICROORGANISMS FOUND IN BIGHORN SHEEP DURING A STRESS-RELATED DIE-OFF," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 20(4), 319-327, (1 October 1984). https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-20.4.319
Received: 7 June 1983; Published: 1 October 1984
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