Watery mouth E.coli

Watery mouth is a bacterial infection caused by the bacteria E. Coli which occurs in lambs. The E. coli bacteria have the ability to travel to the animal’s stomach upon entering the body and are usually dealt with, as in it denatures and destroys them, by the acidic nature of the adult sheep’s stomach. This means that they are less likely to adversely affect mature sheep. However, young lambs will not have developed this defence as their stomach contents have a pH of approximately 7 which is not acidic enough. Upon entering and then passing the stomach, the bacteria replicate and reproduce in the lamb’s intestines.

Young lambs between the ages of one and three days are therefore observed to be more susceptible to an infection of watery mouth disease. 

The disease is transmitted via ingestion of the E. coli bacteria and if there is not an adequate intake of colostrum. The symptoms include salivating, dehydration and sometimes, though rarely, diarrhoea. The infected lamb may die within hours. 

Watery mouth is usually transmitted to lambs once they’ve ingested a large amount of the E. coli bacteria which replicate in their intestines. Lambs can contract the disease following oral contact with contaminated bedding or even the wool of their own mothers infected with E. coli. Unclean udders also act as sources of infection for watery mouth to their offspring. If the quantity of colostrum taken in from lambs’ mothers is not sufficient then this can also result in a greater incidence of the disease as the necessary maternal antibodies are not passed on. 

Transmission is more of a risk in areas where poor hygiene and wet or damp conditions are present. Concerning the spread of the disease, it is also especially rapid in areas of overcrowding where the bacteria have more opportunity to come into contact with susceptible lambs and sheep. However, it is not confined to only this type of intensive farming since it can be found in most areas since the bacteria is prevalent in the environment. It can also be seen in lambs outdoors.

Hygiene is critically important in the fight against watery mouth. The lambing environment including the individual lambing pens, pens where ewes lamb down and also the feeding equipment should be clean at all times. Resistance to antibiotics treating the disease is becoming more common. Many traditional methods of prevention are failing to stop watery mouth. Our "Hygiene concept" has proven successful in preventing watery mouth on farms all over Ireland. It has also been successful on farms where resistance to traditional antibiotics have ceased to work in curing and preventing the disease.

The Hygiene concept which uses both enzymes and probiotic bacteria that dominate the environment (sheds and pens) and helps control the level of bacteria in the sheds.  Our probiotic spray Dominate liquid is used throughout the lambing season and the solution is easy and simple to use.

We also advise on programmes to prevent watery mouth on farm.

 Bedding should be clean and soiled bedding removed. Lambs should be monitored so that they ingest large enough quantities of colostrum in the first six hours of life to provide them with protection.