Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (insidiosa) is the well-known causative agent of erysipelas septicaemia in swine (Radostits et al., 1994). Erysipelothrix infection also occurs in sheep. The most common manifestation in sheep is polyarthritis and lameness (Jubb et al., 1985; Giles, 1981). Other reported forms of the infection are valvular endocarditis (MacLachlan, 1978), abortion (Schmitz and Sonn, 1984), pneumonia in adult sheep, septicaemia with pulmonary abscessation in adult ewes (Griffiths et al., 1991), septicaemia with diarrhoea, and arthritis, meningitis (Nicolas et al., 1980) and cutaneous infections (Griffiths et al., 1991). An unusual form of erysipelas infection in sheep was reported as localized multiple abscesses in spleen (Afnan and Tadjbackche, 1974). This report describes the occurrence of erysipelas septicaemia in neonatal lambs.

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