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Infection in
ewes and goats, occasionally cattle, is not commonly clinical unless the animals are
pregnant. Can cause significant abortion in indivdual flocks (associated with focal
necrotising placentitis) and congenital abnormalities in lambs. Classical outcome of in
utero is the 'hairy shaker' lamb. This reflects the tropism of the virus (and the
other pestiviruses for foetal lymphoid, skin and CNS tissues. 'Hairy shaker' lambs have
hair rather than wool coats and CNS lesions often with hypomyelinogenesis and
hypocerebellum. Often there is in utero growth retardation (IUGR) in skeletal
tissues and some lambs are born weak and most do not thrive. Some are persistently
infected with the virus (see below with BVDV notes). |