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“As we struggle mightily to resuscitate our industry through the ‘Let’s Grow’ program, we simply can’t ignore the ways that ovine progressive pneumonia has thwarted those recovery efforts . . . I can think of no other topic that has had a bigger impact on us in the sheep business. Had we not eradicated OPP from our flock 21 years ago, I am certain we would not be in the business today.”
CLARK BREDAHL
PRODUCER / COLUMNIST
THE SHEPHERD MAGAZINE

Introductory Info:

Comprehensive OPP Info Sheet from AASRP (Holly Neaton DVM)
OPP: Unlocking the Mystery (slide show, Holly Neaton DVM)
Minnesota’s OPP/CAE Program: “Healthy Sheep and Goats” (MN Board of Animal Health)
Poster: 2019 Guelph Conference (new OPP eradication strategy: Wolf, Lewman, Neaton, Patnayak)
Health Challenges for the Sheep Industry (Holly Neaton DVM, Polypay Newsletter)
OPP Eradication: Why Have We Waited So Long? (Clark BreDahl, The Shepherd magazine)
USDA-APHIS 2003 OPP Info Sheet (results from NAHMS 2001 Sheep Survey)

Testing for OPP:

Collecting Blood Samples from Sheep (30-minute YouTube video, Holly Neaton DVM)
Submitting Samples to the University of Minnesota for OPP Testing (Judy Lewman, Holly Neaton DVM)
Getting to Know the Elitest ELISA (Judy Lewman, Holly Neaton DVM, Dr Andres de la Concha-Bermejillo)
Elitest ELISA testing in the Netherlands (Dr Marian Aalberts et al, GD Animal health)
VMRD cELISA testing: Sheep vs. Goats (Dr Lynn Herrmann-Hoesing et al, USDA publication)
VMRD cELISA Chlamydia Vaccine Cross-Reactivity Study (Dr Devi Patnayak et al, The Shepherd)

Producer Stories:

Another Producer Eradicates OPP from his Highly Productive Flock (Tom Vaassen, WI, The Shepherd magazine)
Froehlich Flock Crosses the Finish Line (MN OPP Eradication Trial, The Shepherd magazine)
Hammond Flock: He did it . . . you can too! (MN OPP Eradication Trial, The Shepherd magazine)
Eradication Trial Slide Show: 400-Ewe Flock (Rob Goerger, MN)
Ovine Progressive Pneumonia, A Personal Story (Bill Fosher, VT)
Economic Impact of OPP (Tom and Marilyn Schwebach, SD, The Shepherd magazine)
One Farmer’s View: Importance of OPP (Greg Pauley, IA, The Shepherd magazine)
OPP Eradication Update (slide show presented at 2018 NSIP sale in Iowa, Cindy Wolf DVM)
Shackled by a Heavy Burden: OPP (Clark BreDahl, IA, The Shepherd magazine)

Minnesota’s OPP Eradication Trial:

This trial ran from Fall 2013 through Fall 2017. For easy printing of selected pages, the files below have been excerpted from our 16-page final report. Click here to view the report in its entirety.

Introduction to the Trial (Holly Neaton DVM, Judy Lewman)
New Strategy Works — No More Orphaning! (Holly Neaton DVM, Judy Lewman)
Producer Report: Froehlich (Kelly, Jean and Steve Froehlich)
Producer Report: Goerger (Rob Goerger Family)
Producer Report: Hammond (Dan Hammond)
Producer Report: Stormo (Karen Stormo)
Can YOU Afford to Eradicate OPP? (Holly Neaton DVM, Judy Lewman)
Eradication Recommendations and Guidelines (updated: Holly Neaton DVM, Judy Lewman)

Articles/Papers: 

OPPV Transmission via Aerosol vs. Oral (Dr Lynn Herrmann-Hoesing et al, 2012 paper)
USDA-APHIS 2015 Info Sheet: Disease Awareness (Results from NAHMS 2011 Sheep Survey)
USDA-APHIS 2015 Info Sheet: Health, Biosecurity (Results from NAHMS 2011 Sheep Survey)
Horizontal Transmission/Productivity Study (1995 paper reviewed by Bob Leder DVM)
OPP Controversy (Norm Gates DVM, Marie Bulgin DVM, Bob Leder DVM, Brian Magee, Yves Berger)

Genetics and OPP:

The use of genetic testing to increase flock resilience to OPP is a tool that can be utilized to mitigate the virus’s impact on flock productivity. Its use has applications and limitations that shepherds should understand. There is clear evidence that TMEM154 1,1 are less likely to become infected with OPP over their lifetime in the presence of continued exposure to infected animals. The reservoir of the OPP virus in a flock is the infected animals that can be identified with serological testing. If eradication of OPP is the shepherd’s goal, then removal of the reservoir by serological testing and culling of positive animals is necessary. Follow up application of biosecurity principles and surveillance are necessary to maintain OPP negative status.

NOTE: The first two files below, a 2013 slide show and related paper, planted the seeds for Minnesota’s OPP Trial.

Integrating Genomics, Testing, and Management Strategies to Control OPP (Dr Kreg Leymaster, USDA, 2013)
Effects of TMEM154 on Susceptibility to the OPP virus (Dr Kreg Leymaster et al, 2013)
NEW Impact of Four Ovine TMEM154 Haplotypes on Ewes (Dr Brad A Freking et al, 2022)
ASI Genetic Stakeholders Slide Show (Dr Brad A Freking, 2020 ASI Annual Meeting)
Effect of TMEM154 . . . ewe productivity during lifetime exposure (Dr Thomas W Murphy et al, 2021)
Incidence of Infection in 39-month-old ewes, TMEM154 (Dr Kreg Leymaster et al, 2015)
10th World Congress/Genetics-TMEM154 (Dr Mike Heaton et al, 2014 proceedings)
Genetic Testing for TMEM154 . . . (Dr Mike Heaton et al, 2013 paper includes breeds chart)
OPP Variant Infects all Genotypes (Dr Michael Clawson et al, 2015 paper from USMARC)
Genetic Susceptibility (Drs Mike Heaton and Kreg Leymaster, USMARC, 2012 article for OPP Society)
TMEM154 Susceptibility Gene (Dr Mike Heaton et al, 2012 paper from which above article prepared)
Genetic Control of OPP (Dr Lynn Herrmann-Hoesing, USDA-ARS, 2008 article for OPP Society)
Future Tool to Fight OPP? (Dr Stephen White, USDA-ARS, NIAA newsletter 2008, see page 4)
Glossary of Genetic Terms (Link to excellent talking glossary: National Institutes of Health)
Genetics 101 (Link to fun, easily followed cartoon in 4 parts, from “23andMe”)

Directory

2023 Member Directory (print friendly format)

Info/Display Items (master copies for reproduction, reduce/enlarge if needed):

3-Fold Brochure (Color, 8-1/2 x 11 paper, print both sides, fold)
Promo Cards (Color, 8-1/2 x 11 card stock, 4 cards/sheet, print both sides, separate/cut)
Small Poster (Color, 8-1/2 x 11 card stock)