What Is Movi?

Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae (M. ovi) is a bacterial species commonly found in the nasal cavity and sinuses of apparently healthy domestic sheep and goats.

It is transmitted to wild sheep and goats (bighorn sheep, thinhorn sheep and mountain goats) via nose-to-nose contact and, less commonly, aerosol/droplet transmission. In bighorn sheep, and very likely thinhorn sheep, M. ovi has been associated with large all-aged die-offs due to pneumonia, often followed by years of lower lamb birth and survival rates that can have devastating population impacts.

Interactions between domestic and wild populations can occur throughout the year. However, these occurrences tend to increase during times of wild sheep rut.

Photo by: Darryn Epp

More about a M. ovi outbreak:


Some domestic sheep and goats carry M. ovi in there noses.

Roaming wild sheep pick up the bacteria when they visit or encounter domestic animals.

M. ovi positive animals spread the pathogen throughout their herd, causing a die-off.

Some ewes develop long-term "chronic" infections.

Ewes may carry bacteria and infect lambs for many years with little immunity; they often die before two months of age.

 

view chart

Transmission Film

A film created for the purpose of raising awareness about M. ovi. 

 

Doctors, biologists, & volunteers and Farmers come together to fight a deadly disease threatening both wild & domestic sheep, in this feature-length documentary.

 

Articles

Disease screening aims to improve health of wild sheep


Provincial wildlife veterinarian Dr. Helen Schwantje, B.C. Sheep Separation Program co-ordinator Jeremy Ayotte and Ellie Hann test a flock for M. ovi ..


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Lethal bacterial disease found in bighorn sheep herd in B.C.'s South Okanagan


A B.C. conservation group is worried about a herd of California bighorn sheep after a lethal bacterial disease was identified in two lambs in a herd o..


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BC’s Wild/ Domestic Sheep Separation Program


The November rut is a magnificent display of strength and agility, a refined ritual that has been practiced by bighorns for centuries. The sights and ..


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Bighorn sheep undergoing COVID-like test


Sick people aren’t the only ones getting tested with deep nasal swabs. Bighorn sheep from Lillooet all the way to Williams Lake, along both side..


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