Club Lamb Fungus
The following information is based on a combination of resources from people, books, the internet, television, and personal experiences. Never practice any treatment on your lamb you are not comfortable with.
One ringworm type disease, caused by a fungus, is currently being called Club Lamb Fungus. Ringworm of animals is caused by two genera of fungi--Microsporum and Trichophyton. In most cases, these fungi are obligate parasites of the skin and hair (wool). They are highly contagious from animal to animal--particularly in dense population conditions. The infections not only transmit readily to other animals, but they often transmit to human attendants of the animals and cause severe skin lesions. When animal dermatophytes infect humans, the disease is usually more severe clinically than the corresponding disease in their normal animal host. Acute inflammatory skin lesions may develop that are accompanied by scar formation.
Causes
Club Lamb Fungus is caused by fungus of the genus Trichophyton. This occurs when the fungus invades the skin and hair (wool) follicles. Slick shearing, repetitive washing, and stress make show animals more susceptible to infection. Nicks and cuts that occur from shearing, handling, or environmental hazards can contribute to the development of disease. Washing can contribute to infection by removing protective oils (primarily lanolin) that are part of the animal's natural defenses against fungal infection. Long or frequent travel, shows, and changes in diet may be stressful to a lamb. Stress may have profound negative effects on immunity and resistance to disease. When fungal spores are present in the animals' environment any of these factors may lead to an opportunity for infection to develop.
Prevention
Club Lamb Fungus can be prevented by taking certain precautionary actions. Since this fungus is mainly contracted by contact with other lambs at shows, this is where the most caution should be observed. Once you reach your lamb show, spray the pens with a Clorox Bleach solution before you put the lambs in the pens. The natural lanolin that your lambs produce in their wool is a natural protection from certain things, such as Club Lamb Fungus. However, when one washes or shears a lamb the lanolin is stripped from the lamb's body, making it more likely to get Club Lamb Fungus. After washing/shearing your lamb, be sure to then wash your lamb with an iodine shampoo or Nolvasan. After washing, blanket the lamb. As soon as you leave the show ring, re-wash your lamb with a fungicide shampoo, use a Clorox solution on the lamb, or use a fungicide spray on your lamb. Be sure to disinfect all showing equipment and supplies once you return home. You wouldn't want your lambs to return home fungus-free and then later get Club Lamb Fungus from its feed pan.
Cures for Lambs
Once your lamb has contract Club Lamb Fungus you should keep it separate from other lambs. Use separate halters, dip your boots as you change pens, disinfect hands before handling a new lamb, etc. Taking these actions will help keep one lamb from giving it to another. The following products may be used on your lamb to cure Club Lamb Fungus:
Clorox Bleach solutionCorn meal in a thick paste Diluted FormaldahideFungo-salve shampooKoppertox (may stain wool)Kreso-DSodium Iodide IV shots (by your veterinarian)Vitamin EFor lambs that aren't healing from Club Lamb Fungus, this could be a secondary infection such as a staph infection. In this case, a few good Sub-Q doses of penicillin will take care of it.
Cures for Humans
If you contract Club Lamb Fungus from your lambs get ready for approximately two weeks of this fungus. The fungus basically just has to run its course, but in the mean time to help clear Club Lamb Fungus up you can apply any of the following to the infected areas:
Anifungal CremeAthlete's Foot cremeBlue Star Ointment taken in conjunction with oral vitamin EClorox BleachIodineLamasilNizoralZinc Ointment
