Sheep Measles

Sheep measles can eat into your profit.
According to DPI monitoring programs, 36% of sheep consignments at various NSW abattoirs are affected by this parasite. On infected premises as many as one in 4 lambs have been found to have the small oval white cysts, 3 to 10mm long, in various muscles. At slaughter affected carcasses will be partly or wholly condemned. These cysts, commonly known as sheep measles, are the intermediate stage of a particular tape worm – Taenia ovis. It occurs in Australia wherever there are sheep or goats, as well as dogs.
Dogs are the final hosts of Taenia ovis. The adult tapeworm lives in its intestines, where it can grow to 2 meters long. The dog’s health is generally unaffected by the tapeworm.
Eggs are shed in the dog’s droppings and infest the pasture. Grazing sheep ingest the eggs. These eggs hatch and tiny larvae developed and migrate to the muscles where they become cysts. Dogs get infected with Taenia ovis by eating viable tapeworm cysts in sheep or goat tissues, e.g. raw meat.
Domestic dogs are the most important definitive host for Taenia ovis. Dingoes and wild dogs are only very occasionally affected.
Foxes are rarely affected with this tapeworm. They are more likely to get different species of tapeworm from rabbits (T.pisiformis and T. serialis) and less commonly the tapeworm Spirometra erinacea from eating reptiles and amphibians.
Sheep measles threaten your wealth and does not develop in humans.
Another dog tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus, or the hydatid tapeworm, is a human health hazard. The adult hydatid tapeworm is tiny – only 4 to 6mm. Its lifecycle is similar to Taenia ovis. However, if humans ingest the eggs – usually due to close contact with dogs – cysts can develop in their organs – such as the liver, lungs or even brain, with life threatening results. Cysts also develop in the organs of sheep or goats.
To control sheep measles and hydatid tapeworm one needs to break the sheep-dog lifecycle.
· Control dog movements
· Prevent dogs from eating raw sheep or goat meat or offal.
· Treat dogs regularly with an efficient tapewormer such as praziquantel (eg Droncit) which can be purchased from a vet.