Bighorn herd Performance and disease in Nevada · Blood sample . Blood - looks for antibodies that animal produces if ... Badlands. Lambs /100 Ewes . Rocky Mountain Bighorn Herd Lamb

Bighorn herd Performance and disease in Nevada

Polymicrobial pneumonia cause disease events

that are initiated by infection with the bacteria

Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae

or M. ovi

M. ovi causes dysfunction of

the cilia in the throat

Bacteria that live in the back of the throat can then move down to the

lungs causing pneumonia

Worst case scenario following M. ovi infection

All age die-off 5-20 % of survivors - chronic shedder of M. ovi Chronic shedder ewe expose lambs in nursery groups Significant annual lamb loss (> 5 yrs)

How we test for Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae

Nasal swab

Blood sample

Blood - looks for antibodies that animal produces if previously exposed to M. ovi

Persistent Antibodies = a few sheep in herd are shedding

Nasal Swab: Looks for presence of the bacterial DNA if the bighorn is shedding M. ovi from nose

Disease Transmission to Bighorn Herds and Variable Herd Reponses

• 47% of Nevada’s bighorn herds have experienced a disease event involving lamb only or lamb and adult mortalities due to pneumonia

Variable Herd Responses • All age disease event with 1 to multiple years of poor or

variable lamb recruitment and no recovery to pre-disease event population level

• All age die-off with complete loss of herd • All age disease event with 1-2 years of poor lamb recruitment

with herd recovery near pre-disease event population level • Few mortalities with little or no impact to herd performance

Why Variable Outcomes?

Pathogen related: • Chronic Carriers • Strain type Animal or Habitat Related: • Herd Density • Subhherd Dynamics • Nutrition • Genetics • Environmental Factors

Parameter 2013 2014 2015

Herds Sampled 7 19 23

Total Animals 80 190 236 GPS Collars Deployed 13 35 62

Disease Surveillance of Bighorn Herds 2013 - 2015

DNA Strain Type of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae detected as of January 2016

0 10 20 30 40 50

Sheep Creek

Snowstorm

Santa Rosa

Jackson

Black Rock

Sheldon

Pine Forest

Montana/Double Hs

Virginia

Granites

High Rock/Calicos

Hays/Coleman

Lambs /100 Ewes

California Bighorn Herd Lamb Ratios 2015 or 2014

M. ovi YES M. ovi UNK M. ovi NO

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

South Snake

North Snake

Rubies

East Humboldts

Pilot Peak/Leppy Hills

Badlands

Lambs /100 Ewes

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Herd Lamb Ratios 2015 or 2014

M. ovi YES M. ovi UNK M. ovi NO

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Virginia

Desatoya

Clan Alpine

Stillwater/East

Fairview/Slate/Sand Sprgs

Toiyabe

Hot Creek

Monitor

Toquima

Pancake

Grant

White Pine/DW/N Pancakes

Tobin

Lambs /100 Ewes

Central Nevada Desert Bighorn Lamb Ratios 2015 or 2014

M. ovi YES M. ovi UNK M. ovi NO

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Mt Grant/Wassuk

East Walker River

Gabbs Valley & Gillis

Excelsior/Candelaria/Miller

Silver Peak

Lone Mountain

Monte Cristo

Stonewall

NTTR

Bare

Specter

Lambs /100 Ewes

West Central Desert Bighorn Lamb Ratios 2015 or 2014

M. ovi YES M. ovi UNK M. ovi NO

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Las VegasSheepDesert

PintwaterSpotted

Gold Buttes/VirginMormon

RiverMuddys

BlacksN EldoradosMcCullough

SpringPahranagat & Mt Irish

Arrow CanyonMeadow Valley

DelamarSouth Pahroc/South Hikos

North Hiko

Lambs /100 Ewes

Southern Desert Bighorn Lamb Ratios 2015 or 2014

M. ovi YES M. ovi UNK M. ovi NO

Age Class 2014 2015

Adults 40 280

Lambs 370 430

Total 410 620

Estimated Statewide Bighorn Losses due to Polymicrobial Pneumonia

2014 - 2015

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014

Lam

b Ra

tio

Herd

Pop

ulat

ion

Estim

ate

McCullough Range, Unit 263

Lamb Ratios Population Estimate

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014

Lam

b Ra

tio

Herd

Pop

ulat

ion

Estim

ate

Fairview/Slate/Sand Springs/Monte Cristo, Unit 181

Lamb Ratio Population Estimate

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

1975 1978 1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014

Lam

b Ra

tio

Her

d Po

pula

tion

Estim

ate

Mormon Mountains, Unit 271

Lamb Ratios Population Estimate

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013

Lam

b Ra

tio

Herd

Pop

ulat

ion

Estim

ate

River Mountains, Unit 269

Lamb Ratios Population Estimate Survey Total

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014

Lam

b Ra

tio

Herd

Pop

ulat

ion

Estim

ate

Gabbs Valley/Gillis Ranges, Unit 205 and 207

Lamb Ratios Population Estimate

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

80.0

90.0

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013

Lam

b Ra

tio

Herd

Pop

ulat

ion

Estim

ate

Monte Cristo Range, Unit 213

Lamb Ratios Population Estimate