The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has provided Agriland with details on the number of cases of notifiable sheep diseases in Irish flocks in 2023 and 2024.

DAFM also provided details on the number of cases of non-notifiable diseases in sheep flocks, but which are of concern to flock owners.

On the notifiable diseases, DAFM diagnosed Enzootic Abortion of Ewes (EAE) in 52 flocks in 2024, and 53 flocks in 2023.

Ovine Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma (Jaagsiekte) was diagnosed in 22 flocks in 2024 and 18 flocks in 2023, while Salmonella typhimurium was detected in one flock in 2023. 

TB was diagnosed in two sheep flocks in 2024, according to DAFM. 42 cases of sheep scab were reported in 2023. 

There were three cases of scrapie identified in 2024, one of which was classical scrapie and the remaining two were atypical scrapie. 

DAFM has encouraged flock owners "to report any notifiable diseases promptly to the Department‘s Regional Veterinary Offices or Regional Veterinary Laboratories". 

Another notifiable disease in sheep flocks is Maedi Visna. According to DAFM, clinical and subclinical Maedi-Visna infection is associated with progressive inflammation of the lungs, joints, udder, and central nervous system of sheep.

Chronic mastitis with uneven/lumpy hardening of the udder is common. Laboured breathing, associated with emaciation, which is caused by progressive pneumonia is the predominant feature in clinically affected sheep.

However, according to DAFM, most infected sheep are largely asymptomatic but remain persistent carriers of the virus and are capable of transmitting infection via colostrum or milk and respiratory secretions.

The first confirmed cases of Maedi Visna were detected in Ireland in 2020 in two flocks, which had a common source of sheep. Maedi Visna was identified in a third farm in 2022. All three farms have since voluntarily destocked.

DAFM said that occasionally, seropositive animals are identified through post-import sampling or through sero-surveillance of cull ewes in Ireland. Such cases are followed up on an individual basis. 

One flock is currently under restriction for Maedi Visna and flocks that are restricted may not sell animals from the restricted premises except directly to slaughter.

While Schmallenberg is not a notifiable disease, it is one that is of concern to breeding herds and flocks.

Schmallenberg was first diagnosed in Ireland in October 2012 and, over the following five months, the virus was detected directly in 49 cattle holdings and 30 sheep holdings.

In 2024, Schmallenberg was identified in 12 herds and 10 flocks. In 2023, there was only a single bovine detection of the disease.