FETAL ANASARCA IN AWASSI SHEEP

Two anasarcous foetuses of Awassi sheep are described. The foetuses we re removed from the dams by caesarean section because of dystocia due to failure of cervical dilation. Uterine incision was made in situ bec ause uteri were so distended they could not be brought out from the si te of incision. Large quantities of uterine fluids and abnormal thick placentas were found. One foetus weighed about 7 kg and the other 13 k g. The foetal heads were deformed: the upper jaw was prognathic and th e left ear of the small foetus was cystic. Necropsy revealed subcutane ous musculature was soft and flabby and abdominal and thoracic cavitie s contained serosanguinous fluid. Histopathological examination reveal ed that only the larger foetus had focal aggregates of basophilic nucl eated red blood cells and scattered megakaryocytes in the liver. We co nclude that anasarca can occur in Awassi sheep, with and without assoc iated extramedullary haematopoiesis.