The first laboratory confirmed case of scrapie in Montana has been found in a 3 year-old ram located on a small farm in southwestern Montana, according to Montana State Veterinarian Dr. Arnold Gertonson. The animal has been destroyed and the epidemiology investigation is continuing to determine if other sheep in Montana are at risk. A flock plan has been developed with the flock owner that included the destruction of the affected animal. Rams are not known to transmit the disease.
Infected females have a high probability for transmission.
There is no treatment for the disease, and once an animal is affected, there is no cure. The disease is confirmed by histological examination of the brain from animals that have shown clinical signs of the disease. Montana is a Scrapie Compliant State. Scrapie is a slowly progressive disease that causes a degeneration of the central nervous system. It was first recognized as a disease of sheep in Great Britain and other countries of Western Europe more than 250 years ago.