J 



STUDIES ON THE TRA NSMISSION OF BR UCELLA VIS INFECTION IN RAMS. Brown, G. M., Pietz, D. E. and 

 Price, D. A. Cornell Vet, Vol. 63, No. l,Jan., 1973, pp. 29-40. (Abstract of Published Report) 



Columbia, Targhee, and Rambouillet rams were artificially exposed to Brucella ovis via the conjuctival sac. 

 Rams not shedding B. ovis in their semen were re-exposed intravenously 13 weeks, and again 27 weeks, after the 

 initial exposure. 



Ewes, induced to come in estrus, were mated with rams that were shedding B. ovis in their semen. 

 Subsequently, during the same period of estrus, each ewe was mated with two non-infected vaccinated or 

 non-vaccinated rams. After mating, the infected rams were placed in a pen with vaccinated and non-vaccinated rams. 

 These rams were allowed to cohabit for approximately 1 year. 



Serologic responses occurred in all 48 artificially exposed rams, in 8 of 25 venereal contact non-vaccinated 

 rams, and in 5 of 23 cohabitation contact non-vaccinated rams. The serologic responses of the venereal and 

 cohabitation contact vaccinated rams were difficult to evaluate because of persistent vaccinal titers. 



Brucella ovis was isolated from the semen of 14 of 48 artificially exposed rams. Single colony isolations were 

 made from the semen of each of two cohabitation contact vaccinated rams on one occasion. There was no other 

 cultural evidence of transmission of infection by venereal or cohabitation contact. 



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