DNA probes detect the genetic message carried by some strains of Pasturella that gives them greater potential for causing disease. Pasturella bacteria have been known to cause most pneumonia epidemics in bighorn sheep herds. Scientists often blame domestic sheep for passing the disease to bighorn populations, however, according to Ward, domestic sheep are not always to blame. Ward does not dispute that domestic sheep can transmit lethal diseases to wild bighorns, but believes bighorns also harbor disease-causing bacteria within their own herds or can be infected by bighorns introduced from other herds. Wildlife officials must take this into consideration before transplanting herds for restoration projects, Ward says.
Management is critical.
DNA probes now can detect the genetic message carried by some strains of Pasturella that gives them greater potential for causing disease. The University of Idaho researchers are using what they have learned to help develop a vaccine for the disease caused by Pasturella strains. Caine Center researchers cooperated with Colorado Wildlife Division veterinarian Dr. Mike Miller to evaluate an experimental vaccine. The scientists cite the need to expand on the effectiveness of the experimental vaccine so it would stimulate greater resistance to the multiple strains of Pasturella.