An outbreak of caseous lymphadenitis in a Norwegian ram circle and attempts to eliminate the disease

An outbreak of caseous lymphadenitis occurred in an isolated group of sheep on an island in northern Norway. The disease was thought to have been introduced and rapidly spread through a ram circle. Problems associated with the poor predictive values of tests that are currently available are acknowledged, as is the pressing need to attempt to eliminate CLA whenever animals from the infected groups may be sold to disease-free flocks. To-date, the results of a test and cull program that was instigated during 2010, using the diagnostic tests that are currently available, are encouraging.