Massive toxoplasma abortions in a dairy sheep flock and therapeutic approach with different doses of sulfadimidine

Authors

NEKTARIOS D. GIADINIS
KONSTANTINOS TERPSIDIS
ANASTASIA DIAKOU
VICTORIA SIARKOU
PANAYIOTIS LOUKOPOULOS
RIDVAN OSMAN
HARILAOS KARATZIAS`
MARGARITA PAPAZAHARIADOU

DOI

10.3906/vet-0910-170

Abstract

In a 500 head dairy sheep flock in Northern Greece, massive abortions (60%) were observed at 110-130 days of gestation. Attempts were made to treat the abortions with oxytetracyclin L.A. 20% but they were not successful. Toxoplasmosis was confirmed by laboratory examination of blood sera of ewes, aborted fetuses, and fetal brain samples. The remaining 200 pregnant sheep were divided in 2 groups of 100 ewes each. Animals of Group 1 were treated with 20 mg/kg b.w. sulfadimidine every other day 4 times, while the animals in Group 2 received 33 mg/kg b.w. sulfadimidine every other day 4 times via i.m. route. Considerable reductions in abortions were observed. The treatments were more effective in Group 2. Lactation started in both groups after treatment and satisfactory milk was produced.

Keywords

sheep, toxoplasmosis, abortions, treatment, sulfadimidine

First Page

207

Last Page

211

Recommended Citation

GIADINIS, NEKTARIOS D.; TERPSIDIS, KONSTANTINOS; DIAKOU, ANASTASIA; SIARKOU, VICTORIA; LOUKOPOULOS, PANAYIOTIS; OSMAN, RIDVAN; KARATZIAS`, HARILAOS; and PAPAZAHARIADOU, MARGARITA (2011) "Massive toxoplasma abortions in a dairy sheep flock and therapeutic approach with different doses of sulfadimidine," Turkish Journal of Veterinary & Animal Sciences: Vol. 35: No. 3, Article 11. https://doi.org/10.3906/vet-0910-170
Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/veterinary/vol35/iss3/11