Diseases Affecting Dairy Goats
Communicable Diseases Of Concern
Caseous Lymphadentitis
Caseous Lymphadentitis (CL) is an incurable contagious bacterial infection of sheep and goats which causes pus-filled abscesses, usually near the lymph nodes, shoulder, groin, and occasionally on internal organs. Internal abscesses are fatal. CL is considered zoonotic (it can infect humans) and care should be taken not to touch the abscess contents. The disease is contracted when bacterium spread by an infected animal enters a break in the skin of an uninfected animal. It is debated how long CL can live in the environment, but some studies have indicated months to years in the right conditions in soil and organic material. There are blood tests available to test for CL, but the reliability of the results is questionable. We have never had a goat presenting with an abscess, but if we do we will quarantine the animal, drain the abscess, and send in the pus for culture. This is the only way to be truly sure in our opinion. We also take a preventative approach by regularly visually inspecting our own herd as well as any herd we intend to buy stock from if at all possible, and/or quarantining new animals for a minimum of 30 days.
Caprine Encephalitis Arthritis
Caprine Encephalitis Arthritis (CAE) is an incurable viral infection of goats. Many goats are asymptomatic, but this disease can often cause arthritis, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), pneumonia, mastitis, and weight loss. The usual mode of transmission is via milk from a CAE positive doe. Horizontal transmission (a positive goat infecting other goats via a shared environment or physical contact) or fetal transmission from dam-to-kid is theoretically possible, but not a likely route of infection. There is a blood test for CAE. Some producers choose to whole-herd test yearly for CAE, others practice “CAE Prevention” by taping expecting does’ teats and pasteurizing milk before feeding it to kids. We both whole-herd test annually AND bottle-raise our kids on pasteurized milk. We only purchase stock from either CAE-free tested herds, or herds that also practice strict CAE prevention. Any goat presenting with symptoms making them suspect for CAE will be re-tested.
Soremouth
Contagious Ecthyma (also known as Soremouth or Orf) is a zoonotic virus of the pox family, mainly affecting sheep and goats. Soremouth presents with scabs, usually on the mouth but also can be found on the genitals, udder, face, ears, or the tops of the feet. There is no treatment for Soremouth; it must run its course in 3-4 weeks. Usually once an animal has been infected it will not contract Soremouth again unless infected by another strain. Goats that show no signs of Soremouth but have been exposed can be immune carriers of the virus. Usually there is an outbreak each year in the new kids. It is considered life-threatening to kids as it can restrict their ability to eat due to the painful sores, or by infecting the dam’s udder causing her to refuse to feed the kids because of her discomfort. Care should be taken not to touch the sores; it is best to wear disposable gloves when handling animals with active sores. Soremouth is contracted when the virus enters through a break in the skin. The virus can be transferred via indirect contact (for instance, sharing contaminated equipment etc) and is suspected to be able to survive for years in soil and organic material in the right conditions. There is a vaccine for Soremouth, but it is a live vaccine that causes mild infection. It is best used in herds where there is already Soremouth present to reduce severity of symptoms. wE prevent Soremouth by carefully inspecting herds we intend to buy from if at all possible – especially immediately following kidding season when the number of presenting animals will be high – and/or by carefully quarantining new stock for at least 30 days.
Johnes
Johnes is a fatal, incurable bacterial disease of the gastrointestinal tract that affects goats, sheep, cows and other ruminants. It is usually contracted by young kids, and then they may not show symptoms for months or years. The animal rapidly loses weight and may have diarrhea. The bacteria cause inflammation of the intestinal wall, preventing nutrient absorption. Basically the animal starves to death despite eating like they should. Infected goats (who may or may not be showing symptoms) shed the bacteria into the environment. From there, young animals and sometimes adults are infected. The bacteria can survive in the soil and environment for over a year in the right conditions. There are blood and fecal tests for Johne’s. The accuracy of the results can be variable, however with there being few other means of control/prevention, we do test our whole herd annually, buy from herds that are consistently testing their herd for Johnes, and/or quarantine and test new stock. We also strive to keep our herd’s environment clean to help prevent this and other diseases, as a dirty overcrowded space is the perfect opportunity for disease to take hold.
Caseous Lymphadentitis (CL) is an incurable contagious bacterial infection of sheep and goats which causes pus-filled abscesses, usually near the lymph nodes, shoulder, groin, and occasionally on internal organs. Internal abscesses are fatal. CL is considered zoonotic (it can infect humans) and care should be taken not to touch the abscess contents. The disease is contracted when bacterium spread by an infected animal enters a break in the skin of an uninfected animal. It is debated how long CL can live in the environment, but some studies have indicated months to years in the right conditions in soil and organic material. There are blood tests available to test for CL, but the reliability of the results is questionable. We have never had a goat presenting with an abscess, but if we do we will quarantine the animal, drain the abscess, and send in the pus for culture. This is the only way to be truly sure in our opinion. We also take a preventative approach by regularly visually inspecting our own herd as well as any herd we intend to buy stock from if at all possible, and/or quarantining new animals for a minimum of 30 days.
Caprine Encephalitis Arthritis
Caprine Encephalitis Arthritis (CAE) is an incurable viral infection of goats. Many goats are asymptomatic, but this disease can often cause arthritis, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), pneumonia, mastitis, and weight loss. The usual mode of transmission is via milk from a CAE positive doe. Horizontal transmission (a positive goat infecting other goats via a shared environment or physical contact) or fetal transmission from dam-to-kid is theoretically possible, but not a likely route of infection. There is a blood test for CAE. Some producers choose to whole-herd test yearly for CAE, others practice “CAE Prevention” by taping expecting does’ teats and pasteurizing milk before feeding it to kids. We both whole-herd test annually AND bottle-raise our kids on pasteurized milk. We only purchase stock from either CAE-free tested herds, or herds that also practice strict CAE prevention. Any goat presenting with symptoms making them suspect for CAE will be re-tested.
Soremouth
Contagious Ecthyma (also known as Soremouth or Orf) is a zoonotic virus of the pox family, mainly affecting sheep and goats. Soremouth presents with scabs, usually on the mouth but also can be found on the genitals, udder, face, ears, or the tops of the feet. There is no treatment for Soremouth; it must run its course in 3-4 weeks. Usually once an animal has been infected it will not contract Soremouth again unless infected by another strain. Goats that show no signs of Soremouth but have been exposed can be immune carriers of the virus. Usually there is an outbreak each year in the new kids. It is considered life-threatening to kids as it can restrict their ability to eat due to the painful sores, or by infecting the dam’s udder causing her to refuse to feed the kids because of her discomfort. Care should be taken not to touch the sores; it is best to wear disposable gloves when handling animals with active sores. Soremouth is contracted when the virus enters through a break in the skin. The virus can be transferred via indirect contact (for instance, sharing contaminated equipment etc) and is suspected to be able to survive for years in soil and organic material in the right conditions. There is a vaccine for Soremouth, but it is a live vaccine that causes mild infection. It is best used in herds where there is already Soremouth present to reduce severity of symptoms. wE prevent Soremouth by carefully inspecting herds we intend to buy from if at all possible – especially immediately following kidding season when the number of presenting animals will be high – and/or by carefully quarantining new stock for at least 30 days.
Johnes
Johnes is a fatal, incurable bacterial disease of the gastrointestinal tract that affects goats, sheep, cows and other ruminants. It is usually contracted by young kids, and then they may not show symptoms for months or years. The animal rapidly loses weight and may have diarrhea. The bacteria cause inflammation of the intestinal wall, preventing nutrient absorption. Basically the animal starves to death despite eating like they should. Infected goats (who may or may not be showing symptoms) shed the bacteria into the environment. From there, young animals and sometimes adults are infected. The bacteria can survive in the soil and environment for over a year in the right conditions. There are blood and fecal tests for Johne’s. The accuracy of the results can be variable, however with there being few other means of control/prevention, we do test our whole herd annually, buy from herds that are consistently testing their herd for Johnes, and/or quarantine and test new stock. We also strive to keep our herd’s environment clean to help prevent this and other diseases, as a dirty overcrowded space is the perfect opportunity for disease to take hold.