This webpage is designed as a project for sheep management class. Even though I probably won't have everything there is to know about club lamb fungus on this site, I hope that it is helpful in educating about this disease. Club lamb fungus is an ovine ringworm caused by a dermatophyte. It was first noticed in show lambs in 1989. The fungi that cause club lamb fungus grow on tissues containing keratin.
Infection begins when spores from the fungus enter the skin and start to grow.
Washing and shearing remove lanolin that helps protect the sheep's skin. Lanolin is a natural body oil found on sheep. Nicks and cuts from shearing allow the fungus to enter the skin and begin infection. Infection is characterized by hairless, scaly lesions. These begin as spots and expand up to 2 inches in diameter 2 to 4 weeks after infection.