Braxy

Synonym: Brad sot

• It is an acute, infectious, often fatal disease of sheep characterized by gastrointestinal involvement, toxemia and sudden death.
• It is usually disease of weaner lambs; 4-5 months old and yearlings.

Etiology:

• Clostridium septicum
• Gram +ve, anerobic, endospore producing rod shaped bacterium
• They are normally found in soil and normal inhabitant of intestinal tract of sheep.
• The organism causes severe localized abomasal infection and toxemia, and may disseminate through the bloodstream to other tissues.

Epidemiology:

• Disease is prevalent in areas where the soil is contaminated by spores.
• Braxy, was first described in Scandinavian countries
• It most commonly affects lambs post-weaning up to approximately 1 year of age.
• The disease is associated with grazing on cold or frozen pastures.
• Freezing may make those high-lignin-containing plants more readily consumed and sheep consume woody plants in winter which injures their buccal mucosa which provides site of entry for bacteria.
• In enzootic areas, losses can reach 8% of sheep at risk, with mortality being as high as 50% of affected sheep.

Pathogenesis:

Clinical Findings:

• There may be sudden death without any premonitory signs
• Lamb stops eating, separate from flock, grind their teeth, become comatosed and finally dies.
• Disease usually strikes the healthy lambs.
• High fever, abdominal distension
• Depression in affected lamb

PM Findings:

• Abomasal wall is markedly edematous and congested.
• Gas bubbles that extend from submucosa are commonly seen on mucosal surface.
• Blood tinged abomasal contents smells foul.
• Abomasal wall is thickened by edema.
• Kidney and liver show hemorrhagic lesion.
• Pericardial and peritoneal cavities contain excess of fluid.
• There may be sub-epicardial hemorrhage.

Diagnosis:

• Based on history; grazing in cold season; frosted condition
• Based on clincal findings
• Based on PM findings
• Examination of abomasal contents for bacterial culture

Differential Diagnosis:

1. Infectious necrotic hepatitis:

• Liver are usually affected. Large necrotic foci are present
• It is usually caused due to migration of F. hepatica larva
• Carcass shows rapid putrefaction, subcutaneous edema, and “black” discoloration (hence the name).

2. Enterotoxemia:

• PM reveals soft pulpy kidney and brain edema
• Sudden death, glycosuria in affected sheep

3. Anthrax:

• Dark unclotted blood oozes out from natural orifices
• Spleen is enlarged usually which is absent in braxy

4. Poisoning:

• Per acute death
• History of ingestion of poison or poisonous plant
• No specific abomasal lesion as seen in braxy

Treatment:

• Due to rapid nature of disease, no satisfactory treatment is available.
• Treatment with Penicillin G may be tried but not effective usually.

Control Measures:

• Feeding of sheep flock should be monitored properly. Sharp grass should be avoided especially in cold season.
• Vaccines may be given. Formalized culture of Cl. septicum is used. Two injections at 2-week interval are recommended.
• Adequate roughages should be provided to prevent abomasal injury
• Carcass should be burnt or buried deeply to prevent environmental contamination.
• Wet, frosty, or contaminated grazing areas should be avoided during winter season.
• In high-risk situations or outbreaks, long-acting oxytetracycline or penicillin may be used prophylactically.