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Sample Size
250
Surveillance Start Date
Jan/01/2017
Surveillance End Date
Project End Date
Website

Bighorn sheep disease surveillance of M. ovi in Alberta

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Wildlife agencies and wild sheep advocates across North America are collecting critical information on pneumonia in wild sheep. Active testing for Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovi) bacteria as well as population monitoring are key components of this work. Alberta contributes to a regional effort across western Canada and U.S. to better understand sinus tumours in bighorn sheep. Results will: - improve effective management strategies to reduce risk - improve herd recovery following an outbreak track new M. ovi strains, which tend to be more lethal and associated with new sources of disease Active ongoing surveillance for M. ovi and early detection of the associated disease in wild sheep in Alberta began in 2017. Nasal areas of hunter-killed rams, research sheep or found dead animals are swabbed. Almost 250 sheep were tested since 2017. All were negative for M. ovi (updated April 2020).