Diagnostic Exercise: Hemolysis and Sudden Death in Lambs. (May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Giannitti, F.; Rioseco, M. Macias; García, J. P.; Beingesser, J.; Woods, L. W.; Puschner, B.; Uzal, F. A.
• Is Part Of: Veterinary pathology. Volume 51:Number 3(2014:May)
• Page Start: 624
• Page End: 627
• Publication Date: 2014-05
• Subjects: alpha toxin -- Clostridium perfringens type D -- hemoglobinuria -- icterus -- yellow lamb disease; Veterinary pathology -- Periodicals; Pathology, Veterinary -- Periodicals; 636.089607
• DOI: 10.1177/0300985813501339
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-9858

Abstract

Within a 24-hour period, 7 out of 200 three- to four-week-old pastured Katahdin lambs died after showing clinical signs of hemoglobinuria, red-tinged feces, weakness, and recumbency. One of the lambs that was examined clinically before natural death also had abdominal pain, trembling, tachycardia, and severe anemia with a packed cell volume of 4%. Pathologic findings included icterus, hemoglobinuric nephrosis, dark red urine, pulmonary edema, hydrothorax, splenomegaly, and acute centrilobular to midzonal hepatocellular degeneration and necrosis with cholestasis. The differential diagnoses and diagnostic workup to achieve the diagnosis are briefly discussed.