Story: Diseases of sheep, cattle and deer

Scabby mouth in a lamb (1st of 2)

Scabby mouth in a lamb

Scabby mouth in lambs is very common in New Zealand. It is caused by a virus that invades wounds around the mouth such as those caused by thistles, producing extensive swelling and reddening of the skin and an unsightly scab. When this falls off the virus survives in the soil to contaminate the next victim. The disease can also affect humans.

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University of Otago, Virus Research Unit, Department of Microbiology and Immunology

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How to cite this page:

Gary Clark, Neville Grace and Ken Drew, 'Diseases of sheep, cattle and deer - Sheep external parasites and fungal diseases', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/17447/scabby-mouth-in-a-lamb (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Gary Clark, Neville Grace and Ken Drew, published 24 Nov 2008