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com

Dairy goats are susceptible to

a variety of diseases and, while
many of the veterinary problems
are similar to those encountered
in cows and sheep, there are a
number of important differences

Diseases of dairy goats

DAVID HARWOOD

GOATS occupy a unique position in the UK livestock industry due to the fact that they are kept for
a wide range of uses. Traditionally, particularly before the 1980s, goats were kept as individuals or in
small groups primarily to produce milk for their owners. Since that time, unit size has gradually increased
and, nowadays, a single herd can comprise in excess of 2000 milking goats. Diseases of dairy goats show
many similarities to those of high-yielding dairy cows and also sheep. There are, however, a number
of important differences between these species that need to be borne in mind, including specific goat
diseases. This article discusses these differences with reference to common infectious diseases, other
clinical conditions, endoparasites and breeding/fertility problems.
David Harwood
graduated from
London in 1974 and
worked in mixed,
mainly farm animal,
practice. He joined
the Carmarthen
Veterinary
Investigation
Centre in 1984
and transferred to
Winchester in 1994,
where he currently
works in the
surveillance division
of the Veterinary
Laboratories Agency
(VLA). He is a goat
consultant to the
VLA Small Ruminant
Group and is a
member of the VLA
Cattle Group. He is an
honorary veterinary
surgeon for the
British Goat Society
and a visiting lecturer
at Glasgow, London,
Edinburgh and Bristol
veterinary schools,
where he teaches
goat health and
welfare. He is also
a past-president of
the British Cattle
Veterinary
Association.

COMMON INFECTIOUS DISEASES

CLOSTRIDIAL DISEASE
Clostridial disease is one of the most common conditions
of goats seen in practice. The vast majority of incidents
involve disease associated with Clostridium perfringens
type D, which produces a potent epsilon enterotoxin.
Disease due to C perfringens types B and C, and tetanus
are reported only occasionally, and goats appear to be

almost totally resistant to clostridial gas gangrene conditions. The discussion below relates only to type D
enterotoxaemia.
Clinically, type D enterotoxaemia can present in three
forms:
* PERACUTE. Affected goats are often simply found dead;
* ACUTE. Disease may progress over three to four days
with profuse watery diarrhoea (often containing blood
and mucus), weakness, anorexia and agalactia in milking

Saanen goats ar thep

dairy

breed In the UK

The main dairy breed in the UK is the Saanen

which has an average annual ladcational yield of 1000
litres, although there are many heavy milking does
which are capable of producing twice this amount.
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In Practice o MAY 2004

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Control and management of clostridial disease

Typical appearance of the gut contents of a goat with

clostridial enterocolitis

does. Animals will frequently show signs of severe

abdominal discomfort;
* CHRONIC. Chronic disease has been described in the
literature and, although it is difficult to confirm, it has
been suspected circumstantially in tl-e UK. It has been
encountered in large housed units and presents as anorexia, agalactia and pasty scour. An apparent response to a
clostridial booster vaccination has been reported, giving
further support for this causal association.
Diagnosis in the live animal is based on clinical signs
and the elimination of other causes of acute diarrhoea.
At postmortem examination, most affected goats show
an acute enterocolitis and the intestine becomes darkened and haemorrhagic, often with gas gangrenous
change in the wall. Intestinal contents are mucohaemorrhagic. Hydropericardium and a predisposing rumen acidosis may occasionally be seen. Diagnosis is confirmed
following the demonstration of epsilon enterotoxin in the
intestinal contents using an ELISA. Gut contents should
be removed before the gut is submitted for laboratory
examination.
Pulpy kidney, which is caused by the same toxin, is
seen in sheep, but is rare in goats.
All goats have a normal gut population of C perfringens, and disease is seen when bacteria multiply
excessively. Any sudden change in diet is a common
predisposing factor. There is also evidence that 'stress'
may play a role; cases have been encountered in expanding large commercial units when goats from many
smaller units are mixed, creating social pressures on
subordinate animals.

LISTERIOSIS
Following an outbreak of human listeriosis in 1988 that
was found to be due to the consumption of a UKproduced goat's cheese, a wave of 'Listeria hysteria'
swept the country. Listeriosis is a rare but, nevertheless,
serious human infection, with a potential case mortality
rate of 20 to 30 per cent. Cases in goats are usually only
seen in larger commercial housed herds.
Goats may exhibit one or more of the following
signs:
* ENCEPHALITIS is the most common presenting sign.
Early in the course of the disease, the head is turned and
tilted to one side, with the neck held stiffly. Progressive
incoordination is seen, and the goat may circle or be
found leaning against a fence or wall. There is drooping
of the eyelids and ears, the tongue may protrude and saliva will be seen drooling from the mouth. Occasionally, a
cud is discovered in the mouth suggesting impairment
in swallowing. As the condition progresses the goat will
In Practice i MAY 2004

Control of type D enterotoxaemia is based on vaccination and the elimination of

predisposing factors. Lambivac (Intervet) is the only licensed vaccine available for
goats in the UK and should be used following the manufacturer's recommendations. After the primary course of vaccination, goats require booster doses every
six months. On units in which the incidence of disease is high, the author would
advocate boosters every four or even three months. The systemic immune
response appears to be rapid and effective, but is very short-lived. Strategic
booster doses prior to periods of likely risk (eg, dietary change) may be worthwhile in susceptible herds.
Goats can develop injection site reactions to a variety of products, including
clostridial vaccines. Owners should be made aware of this, particularly if a show
animal is to be vaccinated (but this must be balanced with the need to

vaccinate).
In the case of an outbreak of disease, if goats are at grass, all animals should
be moved from lush to poorer quality grazing, or housed. In all incidents, plenty
of good quality roughage should be provided and the intake of highly digestible
carbohydrate reduced, taking care not to compromise dietary requirements,
particularly in pregnant does. The use of parenteral antibiotics may be indicated
together with other supportive treatment such as fluid therapy, oral chloradane,
kaogel and agents to reduce intestinal motility and control pain (eg, Rimadyl;
Pfizer). A vaccination programme should be instigated immediately, following
the manufacturer's recommendations. Owners should be warned that adequate
immunity will not be immediate.

become recumbent; opisthotonos and convulsions are

often terminal features. Clinical disease in the goat can
develop very rapidly - for example, some individuals
which show only mild clinical signs may deteriorate
and die within 24 hours as a result of an overwhelming

septicaemia;
* ABORTION tends to be sporadic although outbreaks
have been encountered. It occurs most commonly from
80 days of gestation. Aborting goats do not usually show
any signs of prior illness, unless retention of the fetus has
occurred or listerial septicaemia is present. Abortion is
not always a sequela of infection; kids may be born alive,
but weak, and die shortly afterwards. A persistent vaginal
discharge is often seen following abortion and can be a
potent source of Listeria infection in the milking parlour;
hence, care should be taken to avoid milk contamination;
* SEPTICAEMIA;
* KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS is not commonly reported.
However, in a typical incident investigated by the author,

Tredment of listeriosis
Treatment must be administered in the early stages of Listeria infection for it
to be effective. A variety of antibiotics, including tetracyclines, chloramphenicol,
penicillin, ampicillin and trimethroprim/sulphonamide, have been used with
variable results. Trimethroprim/sulphonamide has proved quite successful, particularly when given in high doses intravenously. Supportive therapy can include
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Fluid therapy is vitally important in
goats that are unable to feed and drink (many goats which survive encephalitis
may die from renal failure following dehydration). Calf rehydration therapy can
be given effectively via a stomach tube.
The majority of incidents of listeriosis in dairy goats are related to the feeding
of silage, with both grass and maize silage being common constituents of total
mixed rations. To avoid spoilage of silage and, hence, a greater potential Listeria
challenge, the author would advocate the removal of uneaten silage after 24
hours.
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approximately 15 per cent of the herd were affected, with

lesions occurring both unilaterally and bilaterally. Some
affected goats showed other clinical signs consistent with
listeriosis, while in others keratoconjunctivitis was the
only presenting feature. There are few, if any, reports of
listerial iritis in goats, a condition which has been reported in dairy cows that have been fed silage;
* VAGINAL DISCHARGE/METRITIS.
In herd outbreaks, more than one clinical manifestation may be apparent. On at least one unit investigated
by the author, the full range of clinical signs were seen.
This differs from the situation in sheep in which it is
rare, for example, for encephalitis and abortion to occur
together.

CAPRINE ARTHRITIS ENCEPHALITIS

Caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE) is a viral disease of
goats that has been reported worldwide. In some parts of
Europe, Australia and the USA, very high levels of infection (80 to 90 per cent) have occurred. In the UK, the
prevalence is not accurately known, but in the limited
surveys that have been carried out, mainly in smaller
herds, the seroprevalence was between 0-2 and 0-5 per
cent. The prevalence of infection in the larger commercial units is not clear, but the seroprevalence may be
higher than in smaller herds as many units were established rapidly from diverse herds of unknown disease status. CAE virus infections are persistent and, therefore, the
detection of actively acquired antibody by either the agar
gel immunodiffusion test (AGIDT) or ELISA identifies
an animal as a virus carrier. Unfortunately, the period
required for seroconversion is variable and may be several months or longer. Positive results in kids under six

cmE vis
Milk is much more infectious than blood. The feeding of pooled colostrum has
been a major vehicle for the spread of CAE infection in herds with infected does.
There may be sufficient carry-over of infection if a bucket previously containing
infected milk is not washed out thoroughly.
Venereal transmission can occur, although females are more likely to transmit
the infection to mates than vice versa. The virus can be detected in seminal fluid.
Lateral transmission may occur among individuals kept in close contact, presumably by oronasal exposure. The carry-over of infection on milking clusters may
be a further potential transmission route. The transmission of CAE via infected
blood is probably of minor significance, although the practice of ear tattooing
and vaccination should be carried out aseptically.

Goat

Currently, there are two health schemes in operation for goats:

* THE SHEEP AND GOAT HEALTH SCHEME, run by the
Veterinary Sciences Division of the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC); and
A THE BRITIsH GOAT SOCIETY'S MONITORED HERD SCHEME,
which is less restrictive, and is run by the Society
itself.

months of age are reliable, but negative results are not.

The detection of colostral antibody in kids is evidence
that, unless the colostrum had been heat treated, they
have almost certainly been exposed to the virus. It is also
possible that a small proportion of infected goats remain
antibody negative and, in these individuals, virus replication may be insufficient to induce an antibody response.
As CAE seroprevalence is fairly low in the UK, it follows that clinical disease itself is relatively sporadic. The
most frequently reported clinical component of the CAE
complex is arthritis which is primarily a disease of
mature goats and its onset may be sudden or progressive.
Any joint can be affected, although the carpal joint
appears to be a common site. Evidence of lameness is
variable; some individuals appear to suffer considerable
discomfort, while others are able to walk soundly despite
considerable enlargement of the joints.
To the author's knowledge, CAE has not yet been
confirmed in the UK. It is predominantly a disease of
young kids; early signs include an awkward hindlimb
gait that progresses rapidly to hindlimb paralysis and
quadriplegia.
Indurative mastitis and interstitial pneumonitis have
also been reported.
There is no likelihood of a vaccine for CAE in the
foreseeable future.

European dairy goats showing (left) carpal joint enlargement and (right) indurative mastitis due to caprine arthritis
encephalitis. Pictures, Pat Oddie

250

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Control of Johne's disease

*

Vaccination against Johne's disease using the Weybridge vaccine is now wide-

ly adopted by large commercial units. Kids should be given half the cattle dose

Feeding pooled milk/colostrum is a major risk factor for the

spread of caprine arthritis encephalitis within a goat herd

JOHNE'S DISEASE
Johne's disease is a significant problem in the UK,
particularly among large commercial goat herds. It is
associated with infection by Mycobacterium aviumn subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP).
Unlike cattle, diarrhoea is not a typical feature of
Johne's disease in goats until the terminal stages of the
disease. Affected goats suffer from wasting, milk yields
progressively fall and many animals become anaemic.
On affected farms, losses due to culling may run at up to
20 per cent per year.
Most goats become infected in the first few weeks
of life although there is evidence that they may remain
susceptible to infection for a longer period than other
ruminants, possibly up to six to eight months of age. It
is thought that infection is transmitted via:
* THE ENVIRONMENT. MAP can survive in faeces for
up to 12 months. Faecal contamination in kidding areas,
particularly in units with synchronised breeding programmes, may be very high, which can lead to contamination of the teat end, creep feeds and forage;
* COLOSTRUM OR MILK. There is evidence to suggest
that milk and colostrum of infected does may carry
MAP. Feeding of pooled colostrum may be a particular
problem;
* IN UTERO TRANSMISSION. Although it has never been
definitively proven, there is evidence to suggest there
are strong familial links in the transmission of Johne's
disease.
As a single case of Johne's disease may take up to
three years to develop, there may be a significant period
of subclinical shedding. Additionally, on many units,
goats are bred from 12 months of age and it is, therefore,
theoretically possible that before the disease becomes
evident in the dam, she might have had at least four kids
all of which may already be infected. This increases the
potential prevalence of disease on individual farms.
Definitive diagnosis of Johne's disease is based on
the demonstration of lesions on postmortem examination,
although the typical 'hosepipe' appearance seen in the gut
of affected cattle may not be apparent in goats. Mesenteric lymph node enlargement (often with haemorrhages)
and thickening of the terminal ileum are both recognised
features. Histopathology and microscopic examination of
affected gut and lymph nodes coupled with culture (which
may take up to 12 weeks) are supportive laboratory tests.
An AGIDT is the serological test of choice. The examinaIn Practice o M A Y 2 0 0 4

into the brisket at less than four weeks of age, but the owner should be warned
that a lump will develop at the site of injection which may be considered
unsightly. In the first six months of 2003, a total of 4500 doses of vaccine were
supplied for use in cattle and 2873 doses for use in goats (equating to a possible
5746 individual goat doses)
Some units develop a known 'dirty' group and a potentially 'clean' group
by means of strategic sampling (within the limitations of the tests currently
available)
* Snatching kids at birth to ensure adequate colostral intake (preferably from
known negative dams) and rearing them artificially away from the dam's environment is useful
* Maintaining a clean environment for kid rearing is important
* As infection may be spread congenitally or via infected milk/colostrum, family
line culling may be worth considering
* Floor-feeding should be stopped and raised water troughs should be installed

Marked

enlargement of
lymph chain

mesenteric

the
on

postmortem examination is
a

feature of Johne's disease.

Picture, Phil Watson

tion of faeces samples microscopically may yield acidfast organisms, either singly or in clumps. The sensitivity
of faecal examination and serology is poor in all but clinical cases in which excretion rates can be high. Valuable
animals or 'pet goats' may be candidates for an exploratory laparotomy and abdominal lymph node biopsy.

CASEOUS LYMPHADENITIS
Corvnebacterium pseudotuberculosis causes caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) in both sheep and goats. However, the
disease is undoubtedly more severe and of greater potential significance in sheep than in goats.
Lesions in goats tend to be limited to the superficial
lymph nodes of the head and neck and, unless they exert
pressure or damage to vital structures, are of minimal
clinical significance although they can cause disfigurement. Of greater concern is the theoretical possibility that
infected goats can act as a reservoir of infection for sheep
(and vice versa) if they have direct or indirect contact.
The spread of CLA in goats probably occurs following contamination of fixtures and fittings (eg, metal
yokes, and feed and water troughs) by abscesses which
burst. The released organisms then gain access via abrasions and damage to the skin. C pseudotuberculosis is
very resistant. It can survive on wool and hair for one
week, in straw for three weeks, in hay for eight weeks, in
the environment of a shearing shed for up to five months,
and in soil for up to eight months (experimental data).
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is not dilrectly comparable to cell couints qLlOted in cCattle.

A culling prog-'ramme for miastitis iI golats should not be
deseloped on the balsis of cell count dattA alone.

Although routine managremrent procedur-es adsvocated

lor use in COSS milking pa rlours aire employed tar less riorously in goat parlours during milking, they cani be readily instigated if deemilecl necessary (for example, due to a
tlatre-up of mastitis).

WASTING/FADING
Walsting/fading in the goat is

fairly comimon clinical

problemil aind presenits a profound ch'allenge for the clinlicilan. A careftul histor-y shoLld be takeni to assess onset anid
progression of clinical sigonrs, and to ascertalill vvhether the
case is ani isolated inlcident or onlC of mnlany. A full clinlical
cxatIIiinatioinIl must he carried OUt supported by relesant
laboratory tests (discuss this approach with the laboratory
to shich salmples are to be seit). General findillels m1(axy
Enlargement of the parotid
lymph gland is a typical sign
of caseous lymphadenitis in
goats

CLA lesions in sheep are olten dlescrihbecd as havxing aln

ionioii ring, 'appecaranie comprising of a series ot colncCIlmoSLNtre
Il01C
aclCuIaC
tric rine s. In ,oats, hoscv er, absccsses
homogeneousl
c ll lS1y palstyN.
Diaurnosis is hased on the demonstration of typealc
lesions 'and the lah)oraltol-y Ciltulr-e of the caLuS.atit Ve ranisi. Ther-e is no rel alblc scrolooical tcst axvailahle and, as
aIrCsult, Lttempts to contr-ol or eradicate the diseaLse in
those countries shere it is a selious prohbleimi haxc been

lal--Clar uLnIISuccesSful.
Thel-c is nio x aiccilic axail1alic for- CLA. Treatment canii
be xSVstemiC Oi o0C.JI bhut it shouldc be rmeiicmhbct-crd that
many goats xill
reiImainl infetCed for lifc, w ith athscesses
reforming oi- de eloping elseshere.

include:
* Nutritional shlortlalls,
* High stocking rate/hullyilln ot1 suhbordinate gToats. This
c.aLn be a probhlemn vvheni a- goat hier-d expandltcs rapidly atind
gToats are pUrchased from11 diverse souIrCCS. Those ori-ci
sm SizeCd unilits may strgleU11C: these aniinatinue trfomii Sall
mILts shcouldl bc idenitifiedl (and hlind-t'cd, it' rcccssary .
EnsuLr-e that thel-c iS suLfficient trouglh o01 rack space to
al lox (all goats to teed together anid also that the food on
offer- is clean anid ot goodl qUIalitv (go.Lts cani be xvcry
pickv).
Olther possible CauISCs of xasting/f.lAling, iniclude:
* Oral problemlis (eg. teeti, gums. tongtuc):
* Loconiotor disease (ec. fcct and joints):
* Metabolic disCeasc (Ceg pregnancy toxaemlia. fatty liv er):
* .Johlle's diseasce
* Othiei chrl-ollic int'ctions:
*

EndoparaLisitcs:

* Ectoparasites:
* TuLImIoLIr-S:
* Scrapic.

OTHER CLINICAL CONDITIONS

MASTITI S
Ti tie cllilical mastitis rcqUiringt antihiotic therapy' iS
comnparatixcely rare in g.oats. The mllOSt COIIImmOIn CaIuSC
ot clinical mastitis is Stop)/h /v(o(locs (ireuf5s, which call
occasionally he inxolxed in sexcVrc Canerellous mastitis.
OtheC- orga-nisms xvhich may potentially cauISC mastitis
ilIcluide colifor-ims M(oilieilimlo Ii(woi1iioti(o and streptococci. Ther-e miax be ain association bctxveenr staphylococcal miastitis and staiphylococcal inifectioni ot the skin
of thc Lcddei- xxwhich is refer-r-ed to as udder ilmpetig(o (see
liter).
CoInVcrsely, thlr-C is at relatix ely hig(h leVCl of subcliillcally intfectet glands fr-omi xwhich hActerlia may he isolaItcd
in the ahsence ot oxert disease. Two SuLr-VcyS in thIC 1980s
citCed aL suhClillicall mastitis prexalence rate of 25 'nd 33
pci cenlt. hased onl ccil cotilt data. In the saime Studics,
Coag-11-1.ase-negatixc staphylococc'i aICCouLn1tecd for 83-5 pccenit and 80) per cenit of iifected qLliArtels, icspcctiVCely

CoagulILsC-enegatixe staphylOCOCCi arIC thelefOre thOugIlt

to be norm-al goait LIdIder cOmniInsaIls.
As aIrCuLlt of these obse- vations. standard ma1stitis
detectio)n k-its miar-ketecd foi caLttle (eg. Whiteside ancl
Califorinia mlastitis tcsts) muLst he ilnterpr-etecd xxith great
care. Goalts hase a naturl-AllyA 11high tuddCerl- Cell counllt xxWhich
252

Dairy goat with gangrenous mastitis of the udder involving

Staphylococcus aureus. Clinical mastitis is comparatively
rare in

goats

In Practice * MAY 2004

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Acidosis
The sudden introduction of high energy feed (eg, barley),
or access to a feed store, usually results in an excessive
uptake of feedstuffs. Rumen fermentation leads to an
increased production of lactic acid, resulting in ruminal
and systemic acidosis. Signs include lethargy, anorexia,
abdominal pain (with kicking of the abdomen and
'rolling'), rumen stasis, diarrhoea and death. Laminitic
changes in the feet are a fairly common sequela.

NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE

The wasting goat presents a real diagnostic challenge

for the clinician

NUTRITIONAUMETABOLIC DISEASE
Hypocalcaemia
Hypocalcaemia is not a commonly reported problem in
goats. It presents a similar clinical picture to that of 'lambing sickness' in sheep. Signs similar to those of milk fever
in dairy cows may occasionally be seen. It may occur in
the periparturient period or at any time during heavy lactation, when grass is rich and nutritional status is good.
Hypomagnesaemia
Hypomagnesaemia is a comparatively rare problem in
large commercial goat herds due to year-round housing,
but can present in a similar way to that seen in dairy
cows in lactating does on lush spring grass. However, as
goats are 'browsers', their fibre intake is usually higher
than that of cattle because, given the opportunity, they
will consume a range of plants and trees.
Ketosis
Ketosis - as seen in dairy cows (ie, acetonaemia) or
sheep (ie, pregnancy toxaemia) - may be encountered in
goats. Clinical signs, aetiology, predisposing factors and
treatment regimens are similar to those described for
either cattle or sheep. The multiple births often seen in
goats may predispose animals to pregnancy toxaemia,
especially in obese does.
Fatty liver syndrome/fat goat syndrome
Fatty liver syndrome/fat goat syndrome is quite commonly encountered. It is seen predominantly in obese
goats which are kidding, when such animals have a
reduced feed intake.
In Practice a M A Y 2 0 0 4

Adults (seven months and over)

SCRAPIE
Scrapie has been recognised in goats since 1942 and
remains an important yet sporadic problem, with no cases
recorded since 1998 and only eight since 1993.
Clinically, signs are rarely seen in goats under two
to three years of age, due to the long incubation period.
Early behavioural signs, including hyperexcitability/
hyperaesthesia, inappetence and reduced milk yield may
be missed. As disease progresses, some affected goats
develop a progressively severe pruritus - the 'back
scratch test' will elicit signs similar to those seen in
sheep such as 'lip smacking', exaggerated tongue movements and intense irritation. Neurological signs, which
may occur either in conjunction with pruritic signs or as
a separate entity, include hyperaesthesia, head tremors,
incoordination, ataxia, excessive salivation and cud
dropping.
Goats might contract scrapie infection from other
infected goats, and the epidemiology may be very similar to that described in sheep. Whether there is crossinfection from scrapie-infected sheep kept in close contact is not known. There is a remote possibility that
bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) may also be
present in the goat population and survey work is currently being undertaken. The possible link may be due to
the fact that, when the commercial dairy goat sector was
first established in the 1980s, many goat herds were fed
commercial dairy cattle feeds as the nutritional and trace
element requirements were similar.
There is a paucity of scientific data available regarding the incidence of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in goats on which to make valid and
meaningful comment. The very limited data that is available suggest that goats appear to be susceptible to infection by all the routes examined, but there is no evidence
of maternal transmission and this is encouraging.
It is unfortunate, however, that there is no currently
available evidence regarding possible genotypic resistance (on which scrapie control in sheep is based).
OTHERS
* Listeriosis (see earlier);
* Cerebrocortical necrosis (CCN) which produces progressive neurological signs. Affected goats eventually
become recumbent with opisthotonos;
* Lead poisoning.
Kids (under seven months)
SWAYBACK/ENZOOTIC ATAXIA
Swayback/enzootic ataxia in goats may not be directly
comparable to swayback in lambs, although both the
congenital and delayed forms may occur. In one confirmed incident investigated by the author, kids born
normally had shown no clinical signs until six months of
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called post-show tlu wvhich is a selfl-limitin mild riespiratory in.sult seen in goats fromairl'riouIS sourcCS returnin g
t1o01m show s.
Other viruses

Therc is no evidence to suggest that any of the UK

ruminant recspiriator-y xiruses, includilne intectious bovxine
rhinotracheitis iIrus, respiratoiry syncytial \x ,is. paratinfiuenztax irus 3 or bo\ itie virus diari-rhoea \siru.. Ire a
cause ot clinical disease in coats.

Brain of a goat showing the typical autofluorescence

of cerebrocortical necrosis under ultraviolet light

a,e, x hen forelimb sxweakness and anaemia x ere seeti. A

prlotoLnd hy1pOctpraemria \xxas demllonlstr-ated biochemiiically anid typical cenitrl 11r1tVOLS systemi IesionIs xereseeni oni histop.athology. Ther-e are some breed differences, xith Angora goats being particularly susceptible.
Goats seem to be imot resistant to the effects of copper
toxicity thain sheep. but great calre should still be taken
xwhen compilintg rations.

OTHERS
* CCN (see earlier);
* Leald poisoniltg;
* Focal symmetricial encephalomalacila mlay be ai teatuI-e of clostridial eiterotoxaemii;
* Meningitis ( neoniital)
* Congtciit.al boi-cder- disease. Kids born alix\c folloxx ing
in utero infectioti can shox ai characteristic nCrx ouS
treimlor (the hairv coat seen in aftected lambs does niot
appe,ar to be a fteaLtur-e ot the disease in coats).

Parasitic pneumonia
Both Miwelleriixs (capillaris anid Dict voclothsfilo aria lungworrm species are common to siheep and goats. M c(lpilfanris - a t\\o-host parasite (snail or sltg) - cauises diffuse
lesiotis in the lungs (lesionis in shcep nmV only be visible
histologically). Infection mnay be inalppIarent. or \weight
loss or- \ arying degrees of rcspiratorly dlistr ess mllay be
seenl. I) tfi/aria has aI direct life cycle aInd inilects the air\xays. It can bc pathogenic in youLIg gioa`tS.
Winter cough
Winter cough is thought to be an allercic aIlveolitis most
likely relaLted to mould spores. The coniditioni improxes
When goaIts are tuir-necd out.

TUMOURS
As the life expect.ancy of mraily gboats is (greater (particuLlarly those animI'als xxvhich are kept as pets) th.an that oi
eithier cattle or sheep, a range of tuLilouILs cane expect-

ed. Tumour-s of the lymphoreticular systemI occul- sp(radically, with a1 relatixely high incidenice of thymilomlials.
Cllinlil silns of thiymilomiias are dixerseC an1d1 inludLCe 5wastlug, respiratory distr-ess, entltal oedella anlld at marL-ked
itLIigular pul1se. Cerx ical and xvaginal neoplasila has been
reported in elderly femicales, the presenting sign ot xhici
iS a t0-Slsim-ellilnel necCroticl hlaemlloi-irhiac liscdishar'ce.

POISONING
The goat's inqUisitixe natture a1nd abilitN to clanimber

RESPIRATORY DISEASE
Ther-e is xvery little inforniation avxailable on respiratorv
clisease in coats, bItt indixidual and hel-d outbreaks cat
ocCLr. Pasteur-ellosis z.til be lpartiCLIlarly" sexre ii lhouLsed

coalts.
Pasteurellosis
M luIemolwii(i( and MINasW1rlla
lklolll00(11t

(1arC iltidoubtedly the maLJor respilrlatory p.thogens encouintered in (oat

herds. OrLtbreaks of disealse ca1n OCCUI ancl there aiie
mal.lny epidemiological similarities xxwith sheep. The three
most commillonly isolated M liaenolxvtica serotypes are
A1. A2 Land A6. MultixalenIt xaccilnes tiiay lixcve a pairt
to play. althougIl in g_o0ats it is generally Ldx sable to use
sepa-rate clostridial and Pastcorclkli x accines. Attcentionl
should also be focused oti other triccer factors. iticlutdinc
stockinCc rates .iid Svenitil atiol.
Mycoplasmosis
At presenit. the UK does niot hlixe the dramaitic mycoplasmial pr-obleimis c11ouIntered in souttier-ni Europe,
Atrica and Asia. Species isolated flom goats in the UK
ilIcluide Mxcop)Iasmia ov'i/)lCillPiol1iMIC, Mv( o)/oslm1a co;0uland Mxcoap/a smua (in(wiliilii.
juictil'ae. Achlcpl/asola ai/i
M oli io Iam ati cl
ar'ti'ioi ma y be coiiitiioii
I/
of
mild
caLuses
respiratory incidenits, particul-arly the so254

uLnder,l- till-oLt or- ox er bai-r-ier-s can allow it ready Laccess

to a x ariety of plIlt or chemICicaIl toxis. A -lthough (goats
a1-ppear to haxe a 111imlte r-esistanlle to 1mallny plants, the
possibility of poisoning should alxxvays be bornie in miid.
Goats .are partticularly attiacted to, aid susceptible to
the ettects of, plants of the rilododenidr-oni fami-ily. Projectile xolmlitill occuLs in affected caises. Those annimals that

SurIxVix ottenl dlxCVlp inhalation piIeItIIotital as ai resuilt;

atitibiotic coxVer should alxays be gixeti it' poisoning is
suspetctl. Pier is (aL comimiioti gardeti plant aidicl a imcimiber-

A massive intrathoracic thymoma in an aged goat

In lPractice * MAY 2004

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of the rhododendron family) is highly palatable to goats.

but can cause death. The author has encountered pieris
poisoning on three occasions; in one incident, a small
shrub measuring only about 60 cm high was demolished
and three goats were subsequently found dead nearby.

TRACE ELEMENT/MINERAL DEFICIENCIES

A variety of nutritional deficiencies can be encountered
in goats, including cobalt, copper, selenium and vitamin
E, although the potential for any such deficiency to
occur is greater in those units feeding a home-mixed diet
as opposed to a commercial ration.
Overall, deficiencies seem to be a less common problem in goats than in either sheep or cattle. This may be
partly due to:
* The browsing nature of goats. Goats will eat herbs.
plants, shrubs and tree material (ie, more mature vegetation) when outdoors, which often ensures a ;reater
intake of available minerals;
* Goats having a higher intake of dr- matter.
Cobalt (vitamin B12) deficiency is very rare in goats,
but may be considered in ill-defined clinical presentations where unthriftiness, inappetence. wasting, anaemia
and reduced milk yield are features, and when other conditions referred to in this article have been ruled out.
Copper deficiency (in addition to swayback/enzootic
ataxia- see earlier) could be considered as a possible
underlying factor if the range of clinical signs described
for cobalt deficiency are seen although, again, this is
comparatively uncommon unless goats are fed homegrown feed produced in a known copper deficient area.
There may be breed differences in copper metabolism
(copper poisoning is a possible scenario if oversupplementation occurs, particularly in Angora goats).
Vitamin E/selenium deficiencies are also relatively rare
in goats, but have reportedly been associated with muscular dystrophy (white muscle disease) usually affecting
young kids which become stiff and reluctant to move.

FOOT CONDITIONS
Goats are very similar in many ways to sheep in their
susceptibility to foot conditions, and benefit from similar
remedial foot trimming and prophylactic footbathing.
Conditions encountered include:
* Footrot;
* Interdigital dermatitis (foul);
* Scald;
* Foot abscesses;
* Orf/strawberry footrot;
* Trauma (eg. white line disease, bruising/foreign body).

wA

Members of the rhododendron family, including pieris,

are both attractive and toxic to goats

SKIN CONDITIONS
Lice
Goats are mainly affected by Bovicola (formerly DainiaIijiia) species (which may be asymptomatic) and Liiiogniathius species. Bovicola linibata is a potential problem
in Angora goats in the UK. B liimlbata shows a poor
response to conventional treatment; it has been reported
that pyrethroid 'pour-ons' are of limited value in treating
biting louse infestations in the UK. There are, as yet, no
known reports of this louse in UK dairy goat breeds.

Mange
Goats can be infested with S(ircoptres Chorioptes,
Psoraoptes and Deinodex species.
Fly worry
Fly worry can be a problem for goats in the summer and
in unhygienic conditions. Mylasis can occur in groats
although it is much less of a problem than in sheep. Fly
bites may lead to visible lesions, particularly over thinskinned areas (eg, udder).

Treatment of ectoparasites
Most ectoparasiticides are not licensed for use in
goats in the UK and, therefore, must be used under
the cascade system (milk should be withheld for
seven days). Products licensed for use in cattle and
sheep that can be used in goats include:
* Crovect (Novartis)
* Dysect Pour-On (Fort Dodge)
* Flypor (Novartis)

~.,
-.

Regular foot trimming is essential in housed goats to avoid

overgrowth and underrunning of feet

In Practice o MAY 2004

~~

Linognathus species (sucking) lice around the eye of a young

Saanen goat
2 55

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Orf lesions around the mouth of a British Alpine goat kid

canifilepl dcvelolp in dchilitatcd (oats, bUt m1lilli-out1breaks caim oCCatsiol.itliN occLl aLIdC thlcsC arl-c thouLgh}t to
have a ftamillal incidcic. JXcmulodhi x species 1maV be
Hiv olx ed in some incCidets as aI )Ustlar deniodectic

Staphylococcal folliculitis of the skin of the udder,

commonly known as udder impetigo

Ticks

Ticks caii lie CiicontLrtCl-Cd

Ol

To(its iII soilie parts (f

Bi itailli

Staphylococcal dermatitis
Stalili loc-ocal dci Iiiatitis is a1particularl iiiiportaiit skiii
disease (if.oats x Ii cli is associated xx ithi S (a0(lrlv ini fec
ti(Il ailcid is qulUitc (ollillioll. It CaIuses siliiatl pListLihes anlld
dr-iCed Cl-Llliti(OIs to oCcuL- oxVCr the hodNr csficcialhr ahoIig
the ba\ck, atiind .also oici the skiii (if tilh uICICer- xlxC-C it is
refer-red-C to ats lditd iiiipetio() (see sectioIi oilimiastitis). It
should he iiotecl that goaIt oxxwniers ottcii relci to this ((Iiditioii as goalt pox' This IS a Colloquial teri. aInd should
iiot he CoItLsecd xxith tuLeC gToaIt pox hichi is anll xotic
rl diseaLsC thalt does JIit oCCLI in thc UK. It is a list A
Oft)icc Inteci-iational des Epliiootics (OIE) dlisealse aId is
iiotifiablc iin the t!K
The t figer0oi the dcxvclopmicit of staphiN hococcal
deiriiiAtitis Icsiols is iiot kiioi . The coInditioii illa, tOr

miangTc.
It hIee ddei is inifetvtcl, carie shouldC be takeil not to
coiltamiial.ltc the teat cldcl hich cai predlispose to nia.lstitis oi seec' intcctioni into thlc iilk (rememmbei thcsc
organisnis ail-c potcltitllN ioonlotic).
Alitibacteriial skiii shanipoos cg. Sclce. Ccxva:
HibisCrLib \'ctcrinar, Sch-cineT-PIouLIh) ar e repoirtetiN
ettectix e aIt wCekIx interx als. To bc cficetix c, relautix clx
]oii couLrSCs ot an11tihiotics nCeedC to bc Llsed xwhich is
avlxaVs a prl-obIcll inll mll.AttueC ruminan1MMts.
Orf

Orf- is eoniiiion in kidis and el iicllN pi eseints ill a simlilfar \xax to the disease inl lam1hbs. Ox\x\iiC-s sIhouIld hb
x ai nedf of its /oollotie poteitial pailCticularl1 it kidis are
kept as pets oi- on open farmis.
Zinc deficiency

/inc deticienle has been recognised ill ient xais ill

at nlLliuiber- ot goit hi-ceds. Clinical signfls iIlICule aflopecial
hNyperke-ratosis and parakcratosis xwith tliickeiied aiid \\winilklecd skinl. prtl-ticularl> on the hinidliiiibs. SCI-otLuIms iieck
Miil head. It ziic detficicN is sLSpected. a SCilmlsalnipleC
should bc collected iiitOi a saniplc bottlc wxith at p1lastic lid
(do 1not ISe a \'a1Ct1aHieC1r tuhbe aLs tile rLibber- bhIg cOiitaiils
ZIIIi xilcli xx ill atfteCt the tCeSt resultS). It coiitrlfiiied, coilsiCdei- ulsiIig citIll a /incoscl (Telsol) bolus. a pcr celt
1iiii suIlpIhIate CiencIh ir Aiiii sulphaIte taiblets givcii at '5()
mi to 2 dail . orallx f( txxo to tO1r x ecks.
ENDOPARASITES

It has beeii su gcStcCI tha1t (oiats alc iiorc suLsceptiblc

toi astrointcsti.iil ciimatode iiitectioiis thaii sheep. Thli.s
is becausC the1 are
piriiicipally hroxx sio aniniilils land.
heiice. theirI rcsistance iiicclianslisms to thcsc cidoipaI lsites aiec lss lilily cxvolxed thlinil those oi shlccp. See ftll--

ther rcadiii t(lir illolre ilnforat0tioi.

NEMATODES
show' a1 high sllsceptibilit\ to gastroillitestillal
emiiiatodcs (x (r01111S) thl-ougLhlout their lix cs. ailid liexer
plroducC the degree of plrotectixC iiiIIIIuIIitN iii later life
that is lrCcoliisec in caittle and sliccli. Mlai) ol these

GoaLts
True goat pox is an exotic notifiable disease of goats.
Picture, Dr Paul Kitching

256

In l1ractice

MAY 2004

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par-asites are comimoIn to all rLImillclants anld caln create

problems in mixed grazing systenms.
It has beeni found that larcer coat herds cannot sustain
milk yields at gra ss as land quickly becomes wxvorm sick'
and subsequenit, regular anthelmintic treatment results in
long periods of milk discard. Therefore, most successful
herds house milkers all year. Zero grazing (xNhere grass
is cut in the field and fed to housed g,oats) is a furtheroption to consider and canl be xvery effectixvely used, but
'ill not eliminate clinical parasitic gastroenrtertis (PGE).
It should be remembered that although PGE is norm(ally
associated with illthrift (and scour, there are xvorms
(notably Hie,nolionhus contototus) xw hich can cause sexvere
disease xith profound anaemia, illthrift and exen death
in the total absenice of diarrhoea.

COCC IDIOSIS
Only about 50 per cent of all Ewineha (Coccidia) species in
goats are capable of producing disease. The most pathogenic species aLre Eilneria n,in(kohlvakin- wvae. Enicicl ca(prini(, Eimeuia clhrisotensuii anid Eilnierti(1 birdl. All Eilweria
species are host specific, although EineXia (VIVOx'iii(i
reportedly has low pathogenicity for both sheep aand goats.
Disease is norimally confined to young kids that may die
suddenly or dexelop diar-hoea (often xxwith blood) of ary
ing sexverity. Eimriia (irloingi may be present in xery high

Use of anthelmintics to control

nematode infection
As mentioned in the text, control of nematode infections in goats is difficult. The strategies used in sheep
and cattle can be adapted, but the need to include
adult goats in a control programme can make it
expensive, especially as three-week dosing may be
necessary. 'Dose and move' strategies are often
impossible because grazing, particularly clean grazing, may be limited or absent; in addition, recent
concerns have been expressed that such practices
actually increase the development of resistant nematodes. Delaying turnout may avoid overwintered
larvae; in addition, delaying turnout of kids until
the second season may ensure stronger animals.
In general terms, goats require a higher
anthelmintic dose than sheep, and it is thought
that much of the resistance to anthelmintics currently reported in the UK may be related to underdosing of goats (this is also linked to a recognised
tendency to underestimate animals' size/weight).
The following products are currently licensed for
use in goats in the UK:
* Oramec Drench (Merial) - 2 5 ml/10 kg;
* Rycomec Drench (Novartis) - 2-5 ml/10 kg;
* Valbazen 2-5% Total Spectrum Wormer (Pfizer) use at a higher dose rate than sheep at 10 mg

albendazole/kg.
Bodyweight in goats is often underestimated;
animals should be weighed, where possible, and
dosed to the heaviest goat in the group.
Eprinomectin has proved useful for lactating cattle in the UK, but is not licensed for use in goats
in this country although one study outlined the
potential benefit of eprinomectin in goats in France
(Chartier and others 1999).
In Practice 0 MAY 2004

Haemonchosis affecting
the eye of a goat. Note
the severe anaemia and
oedema of the eyelids

numbers in faecal s(amples and is also associated x ith smnal

x hite niodules in the gut xxall, but has lox pathogenicity.
Maintaining good hygiene is of paramount importance, pcarticularly reducing faccal contaminlationi of food
and xxater troughIs. Kids like to clamber into trouglhs
xxwhile 'playing so it is xxworth coxeringC troughs or SIS5pending them fromii the roof. A good oocidal disinfect.ant
(e,. Oocide; Antec) used in conjunctioni xxith steamn
cleaning should be part of the contr-ol strategy.
No products are licensed for the treatment of coccidiosis in coalts, but the folloxxwing products are regularly
used unlder X eterin.Ary supeIX ision:
* StUIHONAMIDES.
- Sulphalmethoxypy ridazille (eg. Midicel. Pharml'acia &
Upjohn; Bimalong, Bimneda) should be administered by
subcutaneous or intranluscular injectioni. These products
should not be used in milking goats:
Sulphadimidine gixven intrax enously, subcutaneeously
or possibly orally;
* DictfsAr RIL. Vecoxan (Jaiussen) as an11 or-al suLspellsion. gixen as txxo doses, txxro xxeeks apatrt;
* DECOQUINATE. Deccox (Mcrial) in teecd. Do not use in
milkine Coats.

C RYPTOSPORIDIOSIS

Cl-rvprosporidi m

species is capable of causing diar-troea

in goat kids betxxeen 10 and 20 days of age. Tlicre is no
effective treatment other thani supportiv e fluids. Attention
should be directed toxwards prex ention (ie, improxved
hygiene on farm) and the proxision of a sound neonatcal
care procramllle. including colostral intake, car-e of the
naxvel anid a conisistcnt and suitable milk feed protocol.
The parasite can surxvixe in the enxvironment fromii olnC
season to the next and is not species specific.
It should be noted that infection xxith CI1vpto(sPo(idi1oun
species can hax e serious zoollotic implications. When
groups of school children xvisit Toat units or smallholdings with gyoats, guidance should be sought from the local
Enxironmental Hecalth Office about the proxision of

hand-xxashinc facilities aind suitable xxamnine

signs.

FLUKE
Both acute and chr-onic fasciolosiS Cmll occur in <oats.

BREEDING/FERTILITY PROBLEMS
Oestrus
The cxpression of oestrus cani be quite intenlse in cToats
and is ofteni mistakeni by oxners for pain or discomfort.
Oestrous goats canl has e a domllinant .attitudc to othelgToats (01-o11rli-uans) and can be very xvocal.
25
257

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Maiden milkers
Many kids and goatlings from heavy milking lines may
show udder development and milk production, particularly during the summer months. Milking such animals to
relieve the situation is not advised unless a maiden lactation is required. If so, ensure that the female is sufficiently mature to cope. Otherwise, leave the animals well
alone as the condition is usually self-limiting, although
reducing food and/or water intake may help; some veterinary surgeons recommend the use of diuretics.

False pregnancy
False pregnancy (hydrometra) is quite unique to the goat
and is relatively common, with a recorded incidence
varying from 2 to 9 per cent. It should be differentiated
from true pregnancy by using the oestrone sulphate test
(50 days post-service) or by ultrasound examination.
Milking does may show a dramatic drop in milk production if the condition is not recognised. It is caused by:
* A persistent corpus luteum. Certain families seem
prone to developing the condition;
* Artificial breeding. Commercial herds often report a
higher incidence in goats which have been artificially
bred (eg, using lighting regimens).
Once confirmed by oestrone sulphate tests or ultrasound examination, treatment is based on the use of
prostaglandin. Dinoprost (Lutalyse; Pfizer), 2 ml intramuscularly or subcutaneously, may be preferable to
cloprostenol (Estrumate; Schering-Plough), 0 5 ml intramuscularly or subcutaneously, as it supposedly has a
greater myometrial effect. Oxytocin (15 iu) given a few
days after treatment with prostaglandin may stimulate
uterine contractions and aid involution.

Intersex
In goats, the dominant gene for polledness is associated
with a recessive gene for intersex (pseudohermaphrodite).
Intersex is a recessive, sex-linked, incompletely penetrant
trait resulting from the breeding of two polled goats.
A mating between a homozygous (PP) polled male
and a heterozygous (Pp) polled female will produce 25
per cent intersexes. A mating between a heterozygous
(Pp) polled male and a heterozygous (Pp) polled female
will produce 12 5 per cent intersexes.
Affected animals are genetically female, but show
great variation phenotypically from phenotypic female to
phenotypic male.

Freemartins
Freemartins can occasionally occur. They are born cotwin to males.
Abortion
Many of the agents that cause abortion in sheep are also
capable of causing abortion in goats and, if the two
species are kept together, there is a possibility of crossinfection. Agents which can cause abortion include:
* Chlanmydophila species (enzootic abortion);
* Toxoplasma species;
* Campylobacter species;
* Salmonella species;
* Coxiella species (Q fever);
* Listeria species.
The incubation period in cases of enzootic abortion
appears to be much shorter in goats than in sheep, and
it is possible for infection and abortion to occur in the
In Practice e M AY 2 0 0 4

Placenta from a goat following enzootic abortion showing

typical intercotyledonary placentitis

Notifiable diseases
Any suspicion of

a notifiable disease should be reported to the local Animal

Health Office as a matter of urgency.

Foot-and-mouth disease
During the 2001 foot-and-mouth disease epidemic, clinical disease in goats was
very mild and often inapparent although typical lesions resembling those seen in
sheep were reported in the mouth and around the coronary band. In one confirmed herd incident, however, very few typical lesions were seen, but milk drop,
blood blisters on the teats and an upsurge of clinical mastitis cases were
observed.

Tuberculosis and brucellosis

Goats are not routinely tested for tuberculosis or brucellosis. Therefore, if either
of these diseases are suspected, or a request is made to test for either of these
conditions, the local Animal Health Office should be consulted before any testing is undertaken.
same year (and not the following year as is the case in
sheep).
Representative material should be submitted for laboratory examination, particularly the placenta, where possible
(although goats find it very tasty, and often eat the lot!).

Vaginal prolapse, uterine prolapse and dystocia

Vaginal prolapse, uterine prolapse and dystocia can all
be encountered in goats, and these conditions should be
dealt with in a similar manner to other ruminants.
Reference

CHARTIER, C., ETTER, E., PORS, I. & ALVINERIE, M. (1999) Activity

of eprinomectin in goats against experimental infections with
Haemonchus contortus, Teladorsagia circumcincta and
Trichostrongylus colubriformis. Veterinary Record 144, 99-1 00
Further reading
BRITISH GOAT SOCIETY website www.allgoats.com
DEFRA (1987) Codes of Recommendations for the Welfare of
Livestock - Goats. Reference PB0081. (These codes are currently

being updated)
JACKSON, P. (1986) Skin diseases of goats. In Practice 8, 5-10
MATTHEWS, J. (1999) Diseases of the Goat, 2nd edn. Oxford,
Blackwell Science

MOWLEM, A. (2001) Practical Goat Keeping. Wiltshire, UK,

Crowood Press

SMITH, M. C. & SHERMAN, D. M. (1994) Goat Medicine.

Philadelphia, Lea & Febiger
TAYLOR, M. (2002) Parasites of goats: a guide to diagnosis and
control. In Practice 24, 76-89
TAYLOR, P. (1991) Anaesthesia in sheep and goats. In Practice 13,
31 -36

WILKINSON, J. M. & STARK, B. (1987) Commercial Goat Production.

Oxford, BSP Professional Books
259

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Diseases of dairy goats

David Harwood
In Practice 2004 26: 248-259

doi: 10.1136/inpract.26.5.248
Updated information and services can be found at:
http://inpractice.bmj.com/content/26/5/248

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To identify possible risk factors for infection, a large- isolates, it was found that all four animals appeared to
scale, cross-sectional epidemiological study on 740 cats be infected with the same strain of B bronchiseptica.
with and without respiratory disease was carried out by This obviously has implications for disease control
Binns and others (1999). This survey found that, overall, where dogs and cats are kept together. The authors have
11 per cent of the 740 cats were shedding B bronchisep- also investigated one rescue premises where dogs with
tica, and the prevalence of infection varied with the type kennel cough were housed with the cats to prevent transof household sampled: 0 per cent of household pets, mission to other susceptible dogs. Unfortunately, the cats
9 per cent of cats in breeding catteries, 19-5 per cent of subsequently also developed respiratory problems and
cats in rescue catteries and 13 per cent of cats in other B bronchiseptica was isolated from some of the cats.
B bronchiseptica is shed in oral and nasal secretions
colonies were positive for B bronchiseptica.
infected
of
cats, and so it is likely that direct or indirect
Binns
results
obtained
of
the
Statistical analysis
by
and others (1999) showed that living in rescue shelters or contact with such discharges is the main route of translarge multi-cat households were both risk factors associ- mission. Some cats may shed higher levels of B bronated with a higher prevalence of the organism. Although chiseptica and, therefore, be more likely to transmit
there was no overall association between the presence of infection to other animals. Although no detailed studies
respiratory disease and the isolation of B bronchiseptica, have been carried out on the transmission of this organseparate analysis of the rescue shelter subpopulation ism in cats, overcrowding and poor management may, as
showed a highly significant association between B bron- with FCV and FHV, predispose to infection and disease.
chiseptica and cats showing respiratory disease at the
time of sampling. This may possibly be due to different References
risk factors for infection which may operate in this type BINNS, S. H., DAWSON, S., SPEAKMAN, A. J., CUEVAS, L. E.,
C. J., HART, C. A., MORGAN, K. L. & GASKELL, R. M. (1999)
of environment or the circulation of more virulent strains GASKELL,
Prevalence and risk factors for feline Bordetella bronchiseptica
of B bronchiseptica in rescue shelters. Interestingly, infection. Veterinary Record 144, 575-580
S., BINNS, S. H., HART, C. A., GASKELL, C. J.
there was no association between the isolation of B bron- COUTTS, A. J.,R. DAWSON,
& GASKELL, M. (1996) Studies on natural transmission of
chiseptica and the two respiratory viruses, thus support- Bordetella bronchiseptica in cats. Veterinary Microbiology 48, 19-27
ing the experimental evidence that B bronchiseptica is DAWSON, S., JONES, D., McCRACKEN, C. M., GASKELL, R. M., HART,
C. A. & GASKELL, C. J. (2000) Bordetella bronchiseptica infection in
able to cause disease independently.
cats following contact with infected dogs. Veterinary Record 146,
As with FHV and FCV, there also appears to be a car- 46-48
P., WEBER, C., LECOUSTUMIER, A. & GUISO, N. (1995)
rier state with B bronchiseptica infection in cats; Binns GUEIRARD,
Human Bordetella bronchiseptica infection related to contact with
and others (1999) found that 9 per cent of healthy cats infected animals: persistence of bacteria in host. Journal of Clinical
33, 2002-2006
were shedding the organism. Although it is also possible Microbiology
McARDLE, H. C., DAWSON, S., COUTTS, A. J., BENNETT, M., HART,
that these isolations were associated with subclinical C. A., RYVAR, R. & GASKELL, R. M. (1994) Seroprevalence and
infections, in an experimental study, B bronchiseptica isolation rate of Bordetella bronchiseptica in cats in the UK.
Veterinary Record 135, 506-507
was shed from the oropharynx of clinically recovered WATERS, L. & BARNETT, K. C. (2004) The eye. In Feline Medicine
cats for at least 19 weeks following infection (Coutts and and Therapeutics. Eds E. A. Chandler, C. J. Gaskell and R. M. Gaskell.
others 1996). In the same study, two seropositive queens Oxford, Blackwell Publishing. pp 455-492
started to shed B bronchiseptica following parturition
reading
although the organism was not detected beforehand. This Further
COUTTS, A. J., DAWSON, S., WILLOUGHBY, K. & GASKELL, R. M.
suggests that, as with FHV latency, the stress of parturi- (1994) Isolation of feline respiratory viruses from clinically healthy
Record 135, 555-556
tion may induce shedding. It is known that, in dogs, cats at UK R.cat shows. Veterinary
GASKELL, M., RADFORD, A. D. & DAWSON, S. (2004) Feline
there can be prolonged carriage of B bronchiseptica fol- infectious respiratory disease. In Feline Medicine and Therapeutics.
lowing infection and clinical recovery and this may have Eds E. A. Chandler, C. J. Gaskell and R. M. Gaskell. Oxford, Blackwell
pp 577-595
relevance for the control of the disease in both dogs and Publishing.
RADFORD, A. D., DAWSON, S., WHARMBY, C., RYVAR, R. &
R.
GASKELL, M. (2000) Comparison of serological and sequencecats.
based methods for typing feline calicivirus isolates from vaccine
B bronchiseptica can infect other species commonly failures.
Veterinary Record 146, 117-123
kept in contact with cats and it is therefore possible that SCOTT, F. W. & GEISSINGER, C. M. (1999) Long-term immunity in
cats vaccinated with an inactivated trivalent vaccine. American
interspecies transmission, particularly between dogs and Journal
of Veterinary Research 60, 652-658
cats, may also play a role in the epidemiology of this SPEAKMAN, A. J., DAWSON, S., BINNS, S. H., GASKELL, C. J., HART,
disease. Binns and others (1999) found that contact with C. A. & GASKELL, R. M. (1999) Bordetella bronchiseptica infection
in the cat. Journal of Small Animal Practice 40, 252-256
dogs with recent respiratory disease was a highly signifi- WELSH, R. D. (1996) Bordetella bronchiseptica infections in cats.
cant risk factor for the presence of the organism in cats. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 32, 153-158
In addition, molecular epidemiological studies have suggested that isolates from dogs and cats on the same
premises may, in some cases, look similar, thus implying
that there may be transmission between the two species.
A report from France has suggested that a human infection with B bronchiseptica originated from an infected
rabbit and likewise there may be a potential zoonotic risk CORRECTION%
associated with infected cats (Gueirard and others 1995).
There is also evidence from a recent study that the Diseases of dairy goats
same isolate can infect and cause respiratory disease in (In Practice, May 2004, pp 248-259)
both cats and dogs (Dawson and others 2000). The study On page 250, under the section on caprine arthritis
found that, following the arrival of a new dog with ken- encephalitis, the first sentence of the third paragraph
nel cough into a household, the other dog and the two should have read 'To the author's knowledge, CAE
cats developed respiratory disease. B bronchiseptica was encephalitis has not yet been confirmed in the UK,' and
isolated from all four animals and, after typing of these not as stated. The error is regretted.
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