ProMed: Pneumonia deaths of bighorn sheep in Montana

[alert]

It is far from clear that the etiology is here, but seeing as this has been reported for some years, it is unlikely to be H1N1.

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f?p=2400:1001:1059468366092942::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,80247

Archive Number 20091126.4055
Published Date 26-NOV-2009
Subject PRO/AH/EDR> Pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA: (MT)

PNEUMONIA, BIGHORN SHEEP - USA: (MONTANA)
*****************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

[1]
Date: Wed 25 Nov 2009
Source: Local News 8.com, Associated Press (AP) report [edited]
<http://www.localnews8.com/Global/story.asp?S=11571155>


Bighorn sheep near Darby dying of pneumonia
-------------------------------------------
Montana wildlife officials say 2 bighorn sheep south of Darby have
died from pneumonia -- raising fears about the health of a large herd
along the East Fork of the Bitterroot.

Pneumonia outbreaks among bighorn sheep can cause herd die offs. One
last year [2008] in the Elkhorn Mountains near Helena killed an
estimated 200 sheep and similar die-offs occurred in 1995 in the
Highland Mountains and 1993 in the Tendoy Mountains.

Fish, Wildlife and Parks veterinarian Jennifer Ramsey says wildlife
agents plan to cull the East Fork Bitterroot Herd to remove sick
animals. The hope is to limit the spread of the disease, but once an
animal becomes sick it will likely die in a matter of days.

The herd of about 185 sheep was established in 1972 when 32 of the
animals were transplanted into the area.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

******
[2]
Date: Wed 25 Nov 2009
Source: Missoulain.com, Ravalli Republic report [edited]
<http://www.missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_96b06f22-d95e-11de-aee8-001cc4c03286.html>


Bitterroot bighorn sheep herd has pneumonia; disease fatal
----------------------------------------------------------
State wildlife officials have confirmed that bighorn sheep from the
East Fork Bitterroot herd south of Darby recently died of pneumonia.

"It's really bad news," said Craig Jourdonnais, Bitterroot-based
biologist for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. "There's been a
history of herds losing 60 to 70 percent of their numbers in a very
short period of time when something like this hits."

The nearly always fatal respiratory disease was first suspected after
hunters reported seeing coughing bighorn sheep near the East Fork
last Sunday [22 Nov 2009].

Jourdonnais said he found 2 dead sheep on the East Fork Road. The 2
rams -- an 8 1/2- and 4 1/2-year-old -- tested positive for pneumonia
at FWP's wildlife laboratory in Bozeman Tuesday [24 Nov 2009].

"Both had a very advanced case of pneumonia," Jourdonnais said. "The
vet had to almost peel their lungs away from the rib cage."

Jennifer Ramsey, FWP's wildlife veterinarian in Bozeman said the
state will attempt to cull more sheep from the herd over the coming
weeks. "Our top priority is to remove sick and dying animals and to
collect biological samples for testing," she said. "Additional
laboratory tests will determine the specific strain of the bacteria,
and removing sick animals could help slow the spread of the disease."

Jourdonnais said he will shoot 3 or 4 sheep that are exhibiting signs
of the disease on Wednesday [25 Nov 2009] for further testing.
"Typically we don't have a lot of options in cases like this,"
Jourdonnais said. "It tends to have to run its course." Once bighorns
contract pneumonia, they die within a few days. There are no known
vaccines to prevent pneumonia in wild sheep.

The East Fork bighorn sheep herd was established in 1972 when 35
sheep ere transplanted there.

Jourdonnais said he counted 185 sheep last year [2008] during an
aerial survey last March [2009]. "They all looked vibrant and healthy
at that time," he said.

The herd has been the source of some "tremendous rams" over the past
few years, with a few close to record book size, Jourdonnais said.
"They are a real asset to the Bitterroot," he said. "The East Fork
herd is pretty well known."

In extreme cases, pneumonia-related outbreaks among bighorn sheep can
result in herd "die-offs." The most recent case in Montana occurred
in the Elkhorn Mountains near Helena. Similar die-offs happened in
the Highland Mountains in 1995 and in the Tendoy Mountains in 1993.

Jourdonnais said there's no evidence the disease originated in
domestic sheep or goats. "We do have a few isolated herds of sheep
and goats nearby, but there is absolutely no knowledge that has
anything to do with what's going on here," he said.

It is illegal to possess a bighorn sheep head picked up in the wild.
Anyone who finds a dead or sick bighorn sheep is asked to call FWP in
Missoula at 542-5500.

[Byline: Perry Backus]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[_Mannheimia haemolytica_ (formerly _Pasteurella haemolytica_) and
_Pasteurella multocida_ are the most common bacterial organisms
causing pneumonia in sheep. Most sheep affected do display some
degree of anorexia, some evidence of labored breathing, and loss of
weight.

While culling of sick animals may seem extreme, this particular
disease runs through bighorn sheep with disastrous results so it may
be the way to save the larger portion of the herd.

If samples from any of the bighorn sheep have been sent for testing,
we would appreciate knowing outcome of the bacterial cultures.

Various photos of bighorn sheep may be found at
<http://www.wildlifephotoart.com/acatalog/Big_Horn_Sheep.html>. - Mod.TG]

[The state of Montana in the Western United States can be seen on the
HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map at
<http://healthmap.org/r/00*m>. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]

[see also:
2006
----
Pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA (NM) 20060316.0824
2005
----
Pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA (CA) 20050828.2546
Pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA (SD) (02) 20050312.0729
Pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA (SD) 20050309.0699
2004
----
Brucellosis, bighorn sheep - USA (WY) 20040118.0194
2002
----
Unexplained pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA (Wyoming) 20020322.3791
1999
----
Epizootic hem. disease, deer, bighorn sheep - Canada (BC) 19991109.2005
1998
----
Psoroptic mange, bighorn sheep - USA (Utah) (02) 19980115.0114
Psoroptic mange, bighorn sheep - USA (Utah) 19980106.0031
1996
----
Bighorn sheep mortality, 1995 19960718.1287]
...................................sb/tg/mj/lm

[Treyfish]

Re: ProMed: Pneumonia deaths of bighorn sheep in South Dakota

<TABLE id=apex_layout_271110100662109808 class=formlayout summary=""><TBODY><TR><TD noWrap align=left>03-DEC-2009</TD></TR><TR><TD noWrap align=right>Subject</TD><TD noWrap align=left>PRO/AH/EDR> Pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA (02): (MT)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

PNEUMONIA, BIGHORN SHEEP - USA (02): (MONTANA)*****************************************A ProMED-mail post<http://www.promedmail.org>ProMED-mail is a program of theInternational Society for Infectious Diseases<http://www.isid.org>Date: Tue 1 Dec 2009Source: Missoulain.com, Ravalli Republic report [edited]<http://www.missoulian.com/news/local/article_b1b6d874-de40-11de-ad1f-001cc4c03286.html>Bitterroot bighorn pneumonia outbreak worsens---------------------------------------------An outbreak of pneumonia in bighorn sheep from the East Fork Bitterroot herd worsened over the past week.State wildlife biologists collected almost 30 infected bighorn sheep from the area south of Darby. Some of the infected animals were shot in an effort to slow the spread of the disease. Others were found already dead."Any hope for a moderate infection rate is waning," said Craig Jourdonnais, the Bitterroot-based biologist for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks [FWP]. "I think we are in full blown die-off mode."Last week [week of 23 Nov 2009], biologists confirmed that sheep from the herd were infected with the nearly always fatal respiratory disease after 2 rams were discovered dead along the road.In the past, some bighorn herds infected with pneumonia in Montana have seen dramatic die-offs in the 60-70 percent range.The East Fork bighorn sheep herd was established in 1972 when 35 sheep were transplanted there. Last spring [2009], Jourdonnais counted 185 during an aerial survey.[But according to Tom Keegan, Fish and Game's Salmon Regional Wildlife Manager, "The East Fork herd is a rarity in that it was never extirpated, meaning today's sheep have the same genetics as those that existed in the drainage before settlement." <http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005121832>, and " Unlike the Hells Canyon area, wild bighorns were never fully extirpated in the Salmon [River] drainage. No transplants have been made into the Salmon River drainages where bighorns now live. Today?s populations are all genetically derived from original bighorn populations present when human settlement of the area took place in the 1800?s." -- see para.16 in <http://www.westernwatersheds.org/legal/pyttnzprc/Declaration_Oldenburg.pdf>- Mod.JW]Jourdonnais and other state biologists will continue to cull sick sheep from the herd this week and collect biological samples for testing."It appears to be pretty extensive at this point," Jourdonnais said. "On Sunday [29 Nov 2009], we headed up into nearby draws. We found a lot of coughing sheep."The disease is impacting the entire herd. "It's an all-age thing," he said. "We're finding infected lambs all the way up to mature ewes and rams. It's across the board."Necropsies found lesions on the animals' lungs. In some of the worst cases, the animal's lung lining was adhered to the rib case.Jourdonnais said he's found sheep that were too weak to stand. Others in earlier stages of infection are able to take just a few steps before stopping. "They are laboring just to move," he said.The biologist has found a few small herds away from the main wintering area that appear healthy at this point. "We're holding hope that maybe they'll keep to themselves and not get infected," he said.Jourdonnais said the public has been helpful in helping biologists locate the ailing sheep. "The Doyle family has been top notch to work with," he said. Local sportsmen have offered to help collect samples from dead bighorns over the next few weeks. "Logistically, we can use the help," Jourdonnais said. "It takes a good deal of time to collect the samples we need."The samples are sent to the FWP laboratory in Bozeman where they are used to identify the pathogen and could potentially help biologists locate the source of the disease.There are no known vaccines to prevent pneumonia in wild sheep. "At this point, direct removal of infected animals is our best tool," Jourdonnais said. "We're going to try to contain it as best we can."It's a bad time of the year for the disease to show up in bighorn sheep. The rams are in the rut and are on the move. "They are highly social animals," Jourdonnais said. "They are touching each other, licking each other, and combating with each other. Behavior-wise they are not helping themselves at all."[Byline: Perry Backus]--Communicated by:ProMED-mail<promed@promedmail.org>[While there are no vaccines shown to be efficacious in wild sheep, one wonders if providing feeding areas with oral medication would be helpful. Of course that also has the danger of attracting those groups that have been isolated and risks exposing them. It is a difficult position for the biologist.Photos of bighorn sheep may be found at<http://www.wildlifephotoart.com/acatalog/Big_Horn_Sheep.html>.The state of Montana in the Western United States can be seen on the HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map at<http://healthmap.org/r/00*m> - Mod.TG]http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f?..._ID:1000,80341</PRE>

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: ProMed: Pneumonia deaths of bighorn sheep in Montana

If influenza antisera is produced in sheep, doesn't that mean that sheep can be infected with influenza?

NIBSC Influenza Antiserum Reagents

All of our seasonal influenza antibodies are currently raised in sheep in the UK in controlled animal facilities under close veterinary supervision. However we can make no statement concerning the region of the UK from which the sheep were obtained. All sheep have an individual health certificate, confirming their disease free status, signed by a veterinary surgeon, which is attached to the IFU.

Antibody to Haemagglutinin (HA) is prepared by first cleaving off the HA antigen from live influenza virus using bromelain. This serves to inactivate the virus although no tests for effective inactivation are done.

The HA antigen inoculation schedule for the sheep is described in the IFU for the reagent.

Details of processing of the resultant sheep serum is described in the IFU.

At times when there were Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks in the UK, the serum was treated to inactivate the FMD Virus using an APHIS approved method of holding at less than pH 5.5 for at least 30 minutes. This is described in the IFU and will apply to products with codes 01/nnn and 07/nnn. NIBSC cannot confirm that the product has been treated to inactivate FMDV according to any other procedure specified in an import permit.

At times when there has been no prevailing outbreak of FMD in the UK, the serum has not been treated in this manner and the IFU will not refer to this inactivation process. Again, NIBSC cannot confirm that these products have been treated to inactivate FMDV according to any procedure specified in an import permit.

Gamma irradiation will destroy these products and should not be used.

It is not possible to label each reagent ampoule or vial with a statement similar to "For in vitro use or use in laboratory animals only". However, where required and appropriate, such a statement can be applied to the shipping container.

http://www.nibsc.ac.uk/products/importing_products/nibsc_influenza_antiserum.aspx

.

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: ProMed: Pneumonia deaths of bighorn sheep in Montana

Montana's 2009 sheep hunting season - archery=9/5 to 9/14, otherwise=9/15 to 11/29.

http://fwp.mt.gov/hunting/seasons/default.html

.

[alert]

Re: ProMed: Pneumonia deaths of bighorn sheep in Montana

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f?p=2400:1001:3687930028391391::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,80842

Archive Number 20100109.0105
Published Date 09-JAN-2010
Subject PRO/AH/EDR> Pneumonia, ovine - USA: (NV) bighorn sheep


PNEUMONIA, OVINE - USA: (NEVADA) BIGHORN SHEEP
**********************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: Thu 7 Jan 2010
Source: Las Vegas Sun, Associated Press (AP) report [edited]
<http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/jan/07/bighorn-sheep-monitored-for-disease-in-nv/>


Bighorn sheep monitored for disease in NV
-----------------------------------------
Bighorn sheep in 2 mountain ranges in northeastern Nevada are being
monitored after a number showed symptoms of pneumonia.

Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) spokesman Joe Doucette says
agency biologists are keeping track of sheep in the East Humboldt
Range and the northern half of the Ruby Mountains.

Doucette says the agency is concerned because the Rocky Mountain
bighorns tend to congregate in the winter and any disease could more
readily spread.

The East Humboldts are home to about 180 bighorns while the northern
Rubies are home to about 160.

NDOW officials are urging the public to avoid such sheep wintering
locations as Beverly Hills and Welcome outside Wells and Lamoille
Canyon near Elko.

The agency is awaiting test results of samples taken from some sheep.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[Bighorn sheep are very sensitive to pneumonia. It appears to run
through flocks rapidly and with devastating results. This winter
season seems to be taking a toll on bighorn sheep in the north and
western regions of the US.

Photos of bighorn sheep may be found at
<http://www.wildlifephotoart.com/acatalog/Big_Horn_Sheep.html>. - Mod.TG]

[The state of Nevada in the western United States can be seen on the
HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map at
<http://healthmap.org/r/012g>. - Sr.Tech.Ed.MJ]

[see also:
2009
----
Pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA (02): (MT) 20091203.4129
Pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA: (MT) 20091126.4055
2006
----
Pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA (NM) 20060316.0824
2005
----
Pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA (CA) 20050828.2546
Pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA (SD) (02) 20050312.0729
Pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA (SD) 20050309.0699
2004
----
Brucellosis, bighorn sheep - USA (WY) 20040118.0194
2002
----
Unexplained pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA (Wyoming) 20020322.3791
1999
----
Epizootic hem. disease, deer, bighorn sheep - Canada (BC) 19991109.2005
1998
----
Psoroptic mange, bighorn sheep - USA (Utah) (02) 19980115.0114
Psoroptic mange, bighorn sheep - USA (Utah) 19980106.0031
1996
----
Bighorn sheep mortality, 1995 19960718.1287]
...................................sb/tg/mj/dk

[alert]

Re: ProMed: Pneumonia deaths of bighorn sheep in Montana

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f?p=2400:1001:3521614900988864::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,80968

Archive Number 20100117.0197
Published Date 17-JAN-2010
Subject PRO/AH/EDR> Pneumonia, ovine - USA (02): (MT), bighorn sheep


PNEUMONIA, OVINE - USA (02): (MONTANA), BIGHORN SHEEP
************************************************** ***
A ProMED-mail post
http://www.isid.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.org>

Date: 16 Jan 2010
Source: The Billings Gazette [edited]
<http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_8502f96e-02aa-11df-99db-001cc4c03286.html>


More bighorns killed in effort to stop pneumonia outbreak
---------------------------------------------------------
Montana State wildlife officials killed 5 more sick bighorn sheep in
West Riverside on Friday [15 Jan 2009], and planned to continue
attempts to stop a disease outbreak through the weekend. [On 14 Jan
2010, they killed 7. This brings the total to 12. - Mod.TG] A herd of
22 sick bighorn sheep moved back into residential yards at the base of
Woody Mountain, where they've been congregating for months. Department
of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP) technicians were able to tranquilize
5 and remove them for mercy killing.

"Most of those sheep were coughing and unstable on their feet," FWP
spokeswoman Vivica Crowser said. "But there were still quite a few
that are spry and wary."

Crowser advised residents to leave the sheep alone and call for a game
warden to handle any infected or dead animals. The wild sheep are
dying from a highly infectious strain of pneumonia. While it is not
transmittable to humans or pets, the bighorns are still unpredictable
and unsafe to approach.

FWP technicians have killed 12 bighorns since the disease outbreak was
1st reported on Tuesday [12 Jan 2010]. An aerial survey found about 65
sheep living on or around Woody Mountain, which stands between the
Marshall Mountain Ski Area and the Blackfoot River north of West
Riverside. About 160 to 180 bighorns live in the mountains on either
side of the river north of Bonner.

A similar outbreak killed 77 bighorns in a herd of nearly 225 animals
south of Darby last fall. [Previous news articles place this event in
November of 2009. Please see ProMED-mail 20091126.4055 - Mod.TG]

U.S. Forest Service and Nature Conservancy lands around Woody Mountain
were closed to the public on Friday and will remain so indefinitely so
FWP hunters can safely examine and cull the remaining infected sheep
there, Crowser said. The dead sheep are being examined in a mobile
veterinary lab to confirm the disease diagnosis.

[Byline: Rob Chaney]

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[For more information on the pneumonia affecting the Bighorn sheep,
readers are encouraged to read the moderator's comments on ProMED-mail
post 20091126.4055.

Photos of bighorn sheep may be found at
<http://www.wildlifephotoart.com/acatalog/Big_Horn_Sheep.html>.

The state of Montana in the Western United States can be seen on the
HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map at
<http://healthmap.org/r/00*m> - Mod.TG]

[see also:
Pneumonia, ovine - USA: (NV) bighorn sheep 20100109.0105
2009
----
Pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA (02): (MT) 20091203.4129
Pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA: (MT) 20091126.4055
2006
----
Pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA (NM) 20060316.0824
2005
----
Pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA (CA) 20050828.2546
Pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA (SD) (02) 20050312.0729
Pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA (SD) 20050309.0699
2004
----
Brucellosis, bighorn sheep - USA (WY) 20040118.0194
2002
----
Unexplained pneumonia, bighorn sheep - USA (Wyoming) 20020322.3791
1999
----
Epizootic hem. disease, deer, bighorn sheep - Canada (BC) 19991109.2005
1998
----
Psoroptic mange, bighorn sheep - USA (Utah) (02) 19980115.0114
Psoroptic mange, bighorn sheep - USA (Utah) 19980106.0031
1996
----
Bighorn sheep mortality, 1995 19960718.1287]
....................jw/tg/ejp/jw

[alert]

Re: ProMed: Pneumonia deaths of bighorn sheep in Montana

Two ProMED articles. Apparently, they have found the (bacterial) cause for this outbreak.

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f?p=2400:1001:2595884394815561::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,81049

Archive Number 20100124.0272
Published Date 24-JAN-2010
Subject PRO/AH> Pneumonia, ovine - USA (04): (MT), bighorn sheep

PNEUMONIA, OVINE - USA (04): (MONTANA), BIGHORN SHEEP
***********************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: 24 Jan 2009
From: David Thomson <thomson.david48@gmail.com> [edited]


Agreed that this is a very sad situation. Without intimate knowledge
of the specific details of the causative infection strain(s), I am
wondering whether an autogenous vaccine may be a way forward, given
the conservation and regional significance of this species. If the
primary is a strain of _Pasteurella multocida_, it may be viable
based on what is known for other _P. multocida_ infections (e.g. fowl
cholera in chickens, what are correctly or incorrectly variously
referred to from time to time as "haemorrhagic septicaemia" or
"shipping fever" in ruminants, etc).

I'd expect there to also be a few vaccine delivery issues, but if the
sick sheep can be destroyed by shooting, the unaffected ones can
probably also be darted or trapped and vaccinated in the normal way.
For darting, it may warrant some work to design and construct an
appropriate dart (e.g. one that reliably delivers sub-cutaneously, is
shed by the target after delivery without causing or leaving a nasty
septic wound to create other health and welfare problems, etc.), but
if one exists or could be designed, then it might come in quite handy
elsewhere in other species for other disease prevention and control
efforts involving wild animals, endangered or otherwise.

--
Communicated by:
David Thomson <thomson.david48@gmail.com>

[An autogenous vaccine may be an option. However, I suspect that time
and cost of development of a reliable subcutaneous dart delivery
system may exceed the time of the outbreak. But it does seem there
should be a response to protect the healthy animals. While there may
not be an approved vaccine, there are methods for rapid approval of
autogenous vaccines. - Mod.TG]


----------------------

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f?p=2400:1001:512939472190893::NO::F2400_P1001_BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,81046

Archive Number 20100124.0262
Published Date 24-JAN-2010
Subject PRO/AH> Pneumonia, ovine - USA (03): (MT), bighorn sheep

PNEUMONIA, OVINE - USA (03): (MONTANA), BIGHORN SHEEP
************************************************** ***
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

Date: 22 Jan 2010
Source: Missoulian [edited]
<http://www.missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_3322d298-06f8-11df-90b9-001cc4c03286.html>


Pneumonia outbreak widens; FWP will kill 95 sheep in West Riverside herd
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The deadly pneumonia outbreak in West Riverside's bighorn sheep herd has
spread, prompting wildlife officials to increase the number of animals to
be culled.

"It looks like we'll have to kill about 90 to 95 sheep, rather than the 60
to 65 we were hoping to take," Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and
Park (FWP)s spokeswoman Vivica Crowser said on Thursday [21 Jan 2010].
"Some sheep east of the containment zone boundary were exhibiting signs, so
we've had to expand that containment zone farther to the east."

Between 160 and 180 bighorns lived in the mountains on either side of the
Blackfoot River north of Bonner before the outbreak was discovered last
week. FWP wardens had killed 60 sheep as of Wednesday [20 Jan 2010], mostly
in the Woody Mountain area above West Riverside. The sheep had become
regular visitors to yards and streets in the community about 7 miles east
of Missoula.

The disease usually kills 80 to 90 per cent of infected herds, and there is
no known vaccine or cure for wild sheep. Crowser said killing the sheep
close around Woody Mountain could prevent the disease from spreading to
more isolated bands in the Rattlesnake Wilderness and south of Highway 200
across the Blackfoot River. Other bighorn herds can be found around Evaro,
Rock Creek and the Bearmouth area.

Because the sheep are dying of a disease and may have other health
problems, the meat is not being donated to food banks. Crowser said anyone
finding a sick or dead bighorn should leave it alone and call FWP at
542-5500 for assistance.

[byline: Rob Chaney]

--
communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[The spread of the disease in these very limited flocks is indeed sad; sad
for the animals and sad for the folks trying to control the disease.

For more information on the pneumonia affecting the Bighorn sheep, readers
are encouraged to read the moderator's comments on ProMED-mail post
20091126.4055.

Photos of bighorn sheep may be found at
<http://www.wildlifephotoart.com/acatalog/Big_Horn_Sheep.html>.

The state of Montana in the Western United States can be seen on the
HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map at <http://healthmap.org/r/00*m> -
Mod.TG]