Tropentag, October 5 - 7, 2004 in Berlin "Rural Poverty Reduction through Research for Development and Transformation"

Effects of Fattening on the Occurrence of Sheep Abscess Disease (Morel’s Disease)

University of Khartoum, Department of Pathology, Sudan

Abstract

This study was carried out in the Sudan to find the relation of fattening to Abscess Disease in sheep. The incidence of the disease was found to be higher in feedlot areas (62.5%) compared to natural grazing areas (5.8%). Pus samples, sweat samples, serum samples were collected from both fat and non-fat sheep.

Bacteria isolated from pus samples of feedlots were Staphylococcus aureus subspecies anaerobius(75%), Corynebacterium spp. (15.8 %), mixed infection of Staphylococcus aureus subspecies anaerobius and Corynebacterium spp. (8.3%) and 2.5% of samples were bacteriologically negative. Samples collected from the slaughteredhouse showed Staphylococcus aureus subspecies anaerobius in a rate of 25% while Corynebacterium spp. in a rate of 75%.

The pH of the sweat is found to be 5.0-6.0 for non-fat sheep (in natural areas) and 6.2-7.5 for the fat sheep (in feedlot areas). Traces of cholesterol were detected by Thin Layer Chromatography plates for fat sheep (15 out of 20) and not detected in non-fat.

The cholesterol level in both fat and non-fat sheep in mg per dl were 74.06±5.56 for fat sheep and 43.00±4.66 for non-fat sheep.

Cholesterol was detected in small amounts in the sweat and in high concentrations in the fat sheep sera. It enhanced the growth of Staph. aureus subspecies anaerobius 7.5×10⁷ CFU/ ml when sterile fat sheep sera was added and 5×10⁶ CFU/ ml with sterile non-fat sheep sera.

Staph. aureus subspecies anaerobius was grown in vitro in brain heart broth media with different pH values and the results showed that the organism was able to grow at pH 7,5 and failed to grow in acidic pH.

Keywords: Abscess, fattening, sheep, Staphylococcus, Sudan

Contact Address: Abdulkhalig Babiker, University of Khartoum, Department of Pathology, Kellnerweg 6 D 37077, Göttingen, Sudan, e-mail: abdulkhalig2004yahoo.com