For this reason, every dead animal should be promptly burned or buried. The surface of the ground may be treated by burning it over with a heavy layer of straw, used oil, etc. This disease, commonly called stable blackleg, is very similar to blackleg. In fact, the similarity is so close that often a diagnosis can be made only when the specific bacteria are identified in the laboratory. Furthermore, both organisms may be present in the same outbreak, or even in the same animal.
Malignant edema does differ from blackleg in some respects.
It is caused by a bacterium called Clostridium septicum . It is more common in older animals, and also is more likely to occur during the winter months than blackleg. The preceding information on blackleg also applies to malignant edema, and for practical purposes, symptoms, treatment and control are the same. Blackleg and malignant edema of sheep These two diseases are indistinguishable in sheep, except by laboratory examination. However, the conditions are not commonly seen in Alberta.