Images of bluetongue in sheep

The following images are recorded from post mortem examinations of two Texel rams clinically affected with bluetongue, sheep 1 died, sheep 2 was euthanased in extremis. Cattle images are also available.

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Images 1 to 13

Sheep 1 confirmed bluetongue case - Texel ram clinically affected.

 

  • Image 1 (384kb) Oedema of the perilimbal region of the bulbar conjunctiva.
  • Image 2 (173kb) Focally extensive reddening and ulceration of the mucosal surface of the lower lip.
  • Image 3 (151kb) Extensive moderately well demarcated area of reddening with small erosions involving most of the mucosal surface of the upper lip.
  • Image 4 (172kb) Dental pad showing irregular poorly demarcated and coalescing areas of ulceration and necrosis. The lip is swollen and mucosal pathology is described in image 3.
  • Image 5 (187kb) Extensive reddening and erosion of the buccal mucosa with loss of conical papillae.
  • Image 6 (160kb) Reddening, extensive erosion and shedding of the mucosa of the dorsal aspect of the tongue.
  • Image 7 (155kb) Focally extensive poorly demarcated reddened erosions on the lateral aspect of the tongue.
  • Image 8 (271kb) Focal intramural haemorrhage at the base of the pulmonary artery.
  • Image 9 (140kb) Multifocal haemorrhages at the base of the pulmonary artery, visibility enhanced by manual stretching of the wall of the artery.
  • Image 11 (190kb) Multifocal pinpoint haemorrhages and reddening of the rumen mucosa intensifying at the pillars where poorly demarcated multifocal areas of erosion are present.
  • Image 12 (180kb) Multifocal coalescing areas of ulceration of the abomasal mucosa at the pylorus with dark red borders
  • Image 13 (317kb) Multifocal extensive areas of dark red colouration on the mucosal surface of the colon.

Images 14 to 30

Sheep 2 confirmed bluetongue case - Texel shearling ram clinically affected.


  • Image 14 (301kb) Focal area of reddening on lower lip with mild swelling.

  • Image 15 (154kb) Multiple haemorrhages on the conjunctiva of the outer aspect of the nictitating membrane of the right eye.
  • Image 16 (162kb) Bilaterally symmetrical irregular shaped areas of intense reddening, erosion and central ulceration of the mucosa of the bottom lip (the ulceration is poorly visible in this image).
  • Image 17 (155kb) Thickening, reddening and multifocal irregular shaped erosions at the mucocutaneous junction of the top lip and along the cranial aspect of the dental pad.
  • Image 18 (149kb) Thickening, reddening and multifocal irregular shaped erosions at the mucocutaneous junction of the top lip with similar lesions on the inner aspect of the top lip and dental pad.
  • Image 19 (155kb) Multifocal irregular poorly demarcated areas of reddening, erosion and ulceration of the buccal mucosa with loss of conical papillae.
  • Image 20 (158kb) Irregular shaped multifocal well demarcated gingival erosions on the medial aspect at the bases of the upper cheek teeth.
  • Image 21 (148kb) Focal area of petechiation on the ventral aspect of the tongue.
  • Image 22 (347kb) Focally extensive mucosal haemorrhage in the cranial portion of the nasal chamber.
  • Image 23 (124kb) Multifocal pinpoint haemorrhages in the cortical region of the popliteal lymph node.
  • Image 24 (174kb) Well-demarcated cream coloured band of muscle within the flexor carpi radialis muscle (confirmed by histopathology as multifocal severe necrotising and mineralising myositis).
  • Image 25 (150kb) Well-demarcated cream coloured streaks visible on a background of unremarkable musculature in the flexor carpi radialis muscle (histopathology as for image 24). Mild oedema in surrounding tissues.
  • Image 26 (261kb) Multifocal coalescing haemorrhage at the base of the pulmonary artery.
  • Image 27 (165kb) Multifocal well-demarcated intramural haemorrhages at the base of the pulmonary artery. These haemorrhages are shown externally in image 26.
  • Image 28 (184kb) Multifocal subendocardial haemorrhage at the attachments of the chordae tendinae. Poorly demarcated pale cream coloured areas of myocardium are visible on the cut surface of the left ventricle, particularly near the attachments of the chordae tendinae (confirmed by histopathology as multifocal myocarditis).
  • Image 29 (144kb) Multifocal haemorrhages on the abomasal mucosa concentrated at the pylorus.
  • Image 30 (192kb) Marked reddening of the jejunal mucosa with fluid sanguinous contents.