Progressive immunopathological changes during early stages of experimental infection of goats with Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis

A dose of 10(10) Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis was administered orally on seven occasions to produce experimental paratuberculosis infection in 10 5-8-week-old goat kids. Bacteriological, immunological, and histopathological changes, their relationships, and the efficacy of the commonly used diagnostic methods were studied during the progressive disease up to 270 days postinfection (DPI). Significant lymphocyte proliferative responses in the peripheral blood of five goats were detected as early as 60 DPI. A lymphoproliferative test was also performed on lymphocytes purified from different compartments of the guts of five infected and five control goats. Significant proliferative responses were observed in lymphocytes of jejunal compartments of all five goats, of which four had also significant lymphocyte proliferation in the blood. The ileal lymphocytes from two goats, one each at 120 and 270 DPI, had significant proliferation. The histological lesions were mainly observed in the gut-associated lymphoid tissues of the ileocecal valve, the ileum, and the terminal jejunum. Acid-fast bacilli were demonstrated in the lesions of two goats at 60 and 210 DPI. Bacterial culture showed poor sensitivity, detecting positive results for only one goat in the fecal and tissue samples at 210 DPI, whereas polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detected one goat in fecal sample at 210 DPI and two goats in tissue samples at 60 and 210 DPIs, respectively. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and agar gel immunodiffusion test were found to be 100% sensitive from 180 and 210 DPI onwards, respectively.     

Application of different methods for the diagnosis of experimental paratuberculosis in goats

The diagnosis of subclinical paratuberculosis is still considered a major problem worldwide. As part of investigating diagnostic strategies for the paratuberculosis infection, sequential results of various diagnostic methods in a progressive experimental infection in goats were evaluated. Twenty-three goat kids were divided into three groups: the infected, contact and control, comprising 10, five and eight goats respectively. Animals of the infected group were orally inoculated on seven occasions with 5 ml of inoculum containing 2 x 10(9)Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis per ml. Lymphoycte proliferation test using johnin PPD detected paratuberculosis infection from 60 days post-infection (DPI) onwards. The johnin PPD was found to be a better antigen for the proliferative assays as compared with the sonicated antigen. The faecal smear examination with acid-fast staining detected more goats as positive than bacterial culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Lipoarabinomannan enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) started detecting infected goats from 150 DPI onwards followed by indirect ELISA and agar gel immunodiffusion from 180 DPI onwards. Histological examination was confirmatory and detected five infected goats as positive.     

Application of the Enfer chemiluminescent multiplex ELISA system for the detection of Mycobacterium bovis infection in goats

A study was conducted to optimise a multiplex serological immunoassay for use in identification of goats infected with Mycobacterium bovis. To assess assay specificity, 31 goats with a history of being free from M. bovis infection were used. To determine assay sensitivity, 180 Single Intradermal Comparative Tuberculin test (SICTT) positive goats were recruited. Additionally, 286 SICTT negative goats classed as potentially exposed animals present in the same positive herds were also included in the study. The results of the assay demonstrated a specificity of 100%. The multiplex assay detected 57/60 SICTT (95.0%) positive animals in one M. bovis infected herd and 120/120 (100%) in a second herd. In a separate experiment, 28 M. caprae culture confirmed infected goats from Spain were assayed, of which 24 (85.7%) were found positive in the test. The results show that inclusion of an antibody based assay can improve the ability to identify M. bovis and M. caprae infected goats. With further development and validation the multiplex assay may prove to be a useful tool for control of M. bovis and M. caprae infection in goats.     

The use of avermectins in two goats with demodicosis

This case report describes the treatment of demodicosis (Demodex caprae) in 2 goats. The entire body surface of both goats was scattered with lens-large nodes from which pasty secretion emptied itself during palpation. One goat was administered 0.67 mg/kg Ivermectin orally once weekly for 12 weeks, the other goat was treated with 0.5 mg/kg Eprinomectin pour-on. The treatment led to an entire healing without any scar formation or depigmentations of the skin.     

β-catenin基因在辽宁绒山羊皮肤毛囊中表达的研究

β-catenin是Wnt信号途径中的重要调控因子,对毛囊细胞的生长、分化、运动、凋亡的调节都具有重要的作用。采用荧光定量PCR方法检测45日龄、365日龄、730日龄的辽宁绒山羊皮肤中β-catenin mRNA的表达,分析其在不同日龄辽宁绒山羊皮肤上的表达差异。结果表明:β-连环蛋白在不同年龄辽宁绒山羊皮肤中均有表达。45日龄的β-catenin基因mRNA表达量极显著(P<0.01)地高于365日龄(1周岁)和730日龄(2周岁)的表达量,而365日龄(周岁)与730日龄(2周岁)间β-catenin基因mRNA表达量则差异不显著(P>0.05)。说明β-catenin在绒山羊皮肤毛囊的发育和成熟过程中发挥重要作用。     

An introduction to principles of veterinary clinical pharmacology: General principles

Three hundred and sixty goats, pregnant from an estimated 72 days to almost full-term, aborted between 30 and 50 hours afterreceiving 0.25 or 0.5ml cloprostenol by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. Despite close observation, no goat was seen aborting. All membranes and some foetal limbs were consumed, afterwhich the foetuses (and three live kids) were abandoned.

Fourteen goats died from blood poisoning due to CI. chauvoei between 30 and 40 hours after aborting. It is recommended that an immunisation programme precede the induction of abortion or premature parturition in the goat.     

Experimental evaluation of urinary bladder marsupialization in male goats

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcome of urinary bladder marsupialization in male goats. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, experimental study. ANIMALS: Six healthy mixed-breed male goats. METHODS: After experimentally induced urethral obstruction, 6 male goats had urinary bladder marsupialization. Renal ultrasonography, complete blood count, and serum biochemical analysis were evaluated preoperatively (day 0), at 7 postoperative days, and then at 30-day intervals until 180 days. Stomal diameter was recorded immediately postoperatively and at each postoperative interval. Necropsy examination was performed on day 180 or when stomal stricture or death occurred. RESULTS: Stomal stricture occurred in 1 goat at 120 days. Another goat was found dead at 150 days; severe, suppurative cystitis was identified on necropsy. All goats had mild urine scald dermatitis. Serum biochemical values remained within normal limits, but significant decreases in white blood cell count, serum creatinine concentration, and stomal diameter occurred. At necropsy, all bladders were tubular in shape. Histological evidence of chronic suppurative cystitis and chronic, mild lymphoplasmacytic pyelitis occurred in all goats. Bacterial culture of renal tissue yielded growth in 3 goats, and bladder mucosal swabs yielded bacterial growth in all goats. CONCLUSIONS: Although clinical signs of ascending urinary tract infection were not observed in goats with patent stomata, urinary bladder marsupialization may result in ascending urinary tract inflammation or infection. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Based on our results, urinary bladder marsupialization should be recommended with caution as the primary method for management of urinary tract obstruction in clinical cases.     

Coexistence of Tuberculosis and Mammary Carcinoma in a Goat

Synchronic occurrence of tuberculosis mastitis and mammary cancer is rare in humans and, to the best of our knowledge, not reported in domestic animals. Here, we present a case of a female adult goat of Serrana breed with simultaneous occurrence of a granulomatous mastitis, due to Mycobacterium caprae, and a mammary carcinoma. Both pathological conditions are rare in goats and should be included in differential diagnosis of mammary lesions.     

Quantitative survival of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites and bradyzoites in pepsin and in trypsin solutions

Bradyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii survived in pepsin solutions and in trypsin solutions. After 120 minutes in trypsin solution at 37 C, infectivity of bradyzoites for mice was reduced 100-fold, whereas in pepsin solution there was no reduction in infectivity. Tachyzoites survived in trypsin, but after 15 and 60 minutes' incubation at 37 C, there was a 100,000-fold reduction in infectivity titer. Toxoplasma gondii was demonstrated in mice inoculated with experimentally infected goat brain digested in pepsin and in trypsin solutions, but not in mice inoculated with undigested brain of the same goat. Seemingly, tissues should be digested in pepsin solution to isolate T gondii from chronically infected animals.     

Experimental transmission of Besnoitia caprae in goats

Experimental transmission of Besnoitia caprae from naturally chronically-infected goats to susceptible ones was achieved by intra-nasal instillation and intra-conjunctival inoculation of cystozoite-containing suspensions, subcutaneous implantation of fascia containing cysts and alternate needle pricking between the infected and non-infected goats. Typical chronic symptoms developed in the fascia-infected does. Cystozoite inoculation into the eyes and mouth did not result in infection. Kids born of dams with acute and chronic besnoitiosis did not contract the infection in utero, suggesting that intra-uterine transmission may not occur. In contrast to does with acute besnoitiosis, which occasionally aborted, the does with chronic besnoitiosis gave birth to healthy kids. Kids below the age of 4 months (pre-weaned period) born of both infected and non-infected does were susceptible to besnoitiosis but appeared to be more resistant than adult goats.     

Comparison of the pathogensis of two isolates of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Besnoitia caprae</Emphasis> in inbred BALB/c mice

This study was performed to evaluate the infectivity of bradyzoites of two Besnoitia caprae isolates, BC-1 and BC-2, to inbred BALB/c mice. Each group of inbred BALB/c mice was inoculated intraperitoneally with 1 × 10³, 1 × 10⁴, 1 × 10⁵, 5 × 10⁵ and 1 × 10⁶ of one of the two isolates of B. caprae bradyzoites. The mice were monitored daily for a period of 40 days for survival. After death of each mice, several passages from its peritoneal washing and tissues were analyzed using ribosomal DNA-specific PCR assay. Marked differences in pathogenicity between the isolates were seen. All the inbred BALB/c mice infected with BC-2 survived but all the mice that were administered with 1 × 0⁵, 5 × 10⁵ and 1 × 10⁶ BC-1 bradyzoites were died within 4–9 days post-infection (DPI). Histopathological examination of the tissues of the dead mice revealed hyperemia and necrosis with presence of mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cell infiltration in myocardium, spleen and intestines together with interstitial pneumonia and peritonitis. All inbred BALB/c mice in the 1 × 10³ and 1 × 10⁴ groups of BC-1 inoculated mice survived and they were euthanized after 40 DPI. Chronic inflammation with infiltration of mononuclear cells was evident in myocardium, spleen, alveolar septa of the lungs of most of the examined tissues with hemorrhagic enteritis in the mice infected with 1x10⁶ bradyzoites. The mice infected with different doses of BC-2 were euthanized after 40 DPI and no lesion was seen in histopathological sections of their organs. All peritoneal washings and examined tissues were PCR positive in BC-1 group. This experiment is the first report to show inbred BALB/c mice as a relevant model for B. caprae and demonstrates that this strain of inbred BALB/c mice is a suitable animal model for biological studies and examination of pathogenesis for this species of Besnoitia. The present findings also provide evidence for significant differences between the two isolates of B. caprae.     

Przhevalskiana silenus myiasis among slaughter goats in northern Jordan

During the period December 1998-May 2000, 900 local goats slaughtered at the Irbid Abattoir (northern Jordan) were examined for the larval instars of Przhevalskiana silenus. Of 900 goats, 10% (95% CI: 9,13) were infested with P. silenus larvae. Only the second and third larval instars were seen. A multiple-regression analysis (with the error variance described by the negative-binomial function) suggested that infestation depended on the month of sampling, and that infestation with live larvae was associated with a poorer carcass. The percentage of infested goats and the mean monthly total number of larvae per goat peaked in samples taken in the autumn and winter. Larval numbers were highly aggregated: most animals had no larvae but the maximum was 69. Analysis of the pattern of aggregation suggested that the best model fit was one in which the larvae counts per goat varied with the monthly prevalence.     

Tuberculosis in goats: assessment of current in vivo cell-mediated and antibody-based diagnostic assays

Tuberculosis in goats, mainly caused by Mycobacterium bovis and M. caprae, is a zoonotic disease with implications for public health, as well as having an economic impact due to decreased goat production, increased mortality rates and costs of diagnosis. There is an increasing need for surveillance of tuberculosis-infected goat herds, particularly in countries that are not officially free of bovine tuberculosis, and goats sharing farms with cattle should be subjected to the official tuberculin test. In Spain, some regions have programmes for the control of tuberculosis in goats, applying the same diagnostic assays that are used for cattle. The objective of tuberculosis eradication in livestock requires adaptation of existing control strategies to include goats. As such, it is necessary to determine whether current diagnostic assays for tuberculosis in cattle will work as efficiently in the goat. This review provides an overview of current in vivo tools for diagnosis of caprine tuberculosis, including estimates of the sensitivity and specificity of tests performed in this species. The number of tested animals and co-infection with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis are also addressed, with the aim of demonstrating the limitations of current assays and the need for further research.     

Demodicosis in a Toggenburg goat

This report describes the findings in a four-year-old Toggenburg goat with demodicosis. The skin had multifocal nodules, which were approximately 5 mm in diameter and contained thick yellow exsudate. Microscopic examination of the exsudate revealed numerous Demodex caprae. The goat was clipped and treated topically every five to seven days for a total of 12 treatments with a 1:100 dilution of amitraz (Ectodex, Hoechst Roussel Vet). The treatment resulted in a marked decrease in the number of skin nodules. However, new nodules appeared after treatment was discontinued and complete clinical cure was not achieved.     

Use of scanning electron microscopy to confirm the identity of lice infesting communally grazed goat herds

Lice have been described on goats in commercial farming systems in South Africa but not from flocks on communal grazing. During a longitudinal survey on the causes of goat kid mortality, conducted in Jericho district, North West Province, lice were collected from communally grazed indigenous goats. These lice were prepared for and viewed by scanning electron microscopy, and micro-morphological taxonomic details are described. Three species of lice were found in the study area and identified as Bovicola caprae, Bovicola limbatus and Linognathus africanus. Sucking and biting lice were found in ten of the 12 herds of goats examined. Lice were found on both mature goats and kids. Bovicola caprae and L. africanus were the most common biting and sucking lice respectively in all herds examined. Scanning electron microscopy revealed additional features which aided in the identification of the louse species. Photomicrographs were more accurate aids to identification than the line drawings in the literature and facilitated identification using dissecting microscope.     

基于SNP芯片的云上黑山羊遗传结构分析

为从分子水平对云上黑山羊遗传结构做出评价,本研究以云上黑山羊核心群母羊108只(来自7个育种核心场、10个群体)、育种素材云岭黑山羊和努比山羊各11和14只、对照组波尔山羊10只为试验动物,用Illumina公司Iselect Goat60k芯片技术在全基因组范围内进行单核苷酸多态性(SNP)分析,并运用GenAlEx 6.5、Cervus 3.0、SNPRelate、Plink 1.07、Mega 4.0进行遗传多样性参数统计计算、主成分分析和系统进化树构建。试验获得143个样本在48 116个SNPs位点上的分型结果,其中波尔山羊10个样本单独聚集,与云上黑山羊、努比山羊、云岭黑山羊存在较大的遗传距离,较小的遗传一致度和较小的基因流,在聚类进化树中显示为一个独立分支,这些结果与波尔山羊实际遗传背景完全一致,显示出它在本研究中的对照组作用,同时证明本研究方法可行、结果可靠;云上黑山羊108个样本具有高度一致性,在聚类系统树中这些样本聚为一个大簇,而努比山羊(14个)和云岭黑山羊(11个)的样本各自聚为一簇;UPGMA进化树显示,云上黑山羊与努比山羊关系较近,与云岭黑山羊关系稍远,这与云上黑山羊育种导血方案结果相一致。云上黑山羊新品种在基因组水平上可与其育种素材明显区分,在基因组层面已具备独立品种特点。     

Pathogenicity of attenuated peste des petits ruminants virus in sheep and goats

Progressive loss of virulence for goat kids was noticed when peste des petits ruminants (PPR) virus was passaged in Vero cells. While goats inoculated with the 60th passage suffered from the clinical PPR disease and mortality, goats inoculated with the 80th passage did not show any sign of the disease. If the progressive loss of virulence of the virus with passage continues, it will not be long before a homologous PPR vaccine will be obtained at the National Veterinary Institute, Vom.     

用绵羊进行性肺炎病毒实验感染山羊的研究

用绵羊进行肺炎病毒接种４只山羊３－４个月后，可观察到接毒山羊都出现了发育迟缓和消瘦现象，并有１只山羊山现了明显的临床病症。而未接毒的对照山羊则发育正常。接毒２８ｄ后，可以从接毒山羊的外周血单核细胞中分离到病毒。病理剖检发现４只接毒山羊中有１只山羊的多种器官出现了较为严重的病变，组织学检查则可看到典型的间质性肺炎、中度的脑炎和较为严重的脾炎的症变。以上的结果表明ＯＰＰＶ可以感染山羊，并对山羊有较强的     

Severe persistent orf in young goats.

Orf (contagious ecthyma) is a viral disease of small and wild ruminants, humans, and less frequently other species. In sheep and goats, the disease is characterized by the formation of vesiculo-proliferative lesions in the skin of lips and nostril. Here, a form of generalized orf in 16 goat kids from 2 different locations in west Texas is described. The disease was characterized by multifocal, severe, proliferative dermatitis that persisted from about 2 months of age until the goat kids were euthanized 3 months later. All affected goats were Boer or Boer crosses under 1 year of age. The mean immunoglobulin concentration in sera of affected goats was elevated compared with healthy control goats. Severe to moderate lymphadenomegaly of the nodes draining the areas of the skin affected with orf lesions was present in all 16 goat kids. Suppurative arthritis, chronic fibrinous pneumonia, and premature thymic involution were found in 3, 5, and 7 of the goat kids, respectively. The skin lesions of 3 goat kids were infested with larvae of the opportunistic black garbage fly (Ophira sp.). The orf virus was identified in skin lesions by isolation in Marbin-Darby ovine kidney cells, electron microscopy, and amplification of viral DNA by polymerase chain reaction. The orf virus was not detected in peripheral blood or lymph node mononuclear cells of any of the goats. Cross-neutralization experiments showed that an ovine orf virus antiserum raised in sheep was more effective in neutralizing a sheep orf virus isolate than a caprine orf virus isolate. The clinical and epidemiological characteristics of these orf cases may be the result of susceptibility factors within some individuals of the Boer breed of goats.     

Efficacy of Flumethrin Pour-On Against Damalinia caprae of Goats (Capra hircus)

Goats naturally infested with Damalinia caprae lice were used to evaluate the efficacy of flumethrin pour-on. The maximum load of lice infestation was detected in the neck region. The LC₅₀ value of flumethrin pour-on against D. caprae was found to be 119.35 ppm and the 95% confidence limits were calculated to be 104.10 and 136.85 ppm. Flumethrin at the rate of 1 mg/kg body weight by pour-on application along the mid-dorsal line was found to be 100% effective in treating lice-infested goats compared with the control goats. The residual action of flumethrin was found to be at least 42 days during which period no apparent signs of any local or general adverse effects were observed. Based on these studies, it is suggested that flumethrin pour-on may be successfully used for both the prophylaxis and treatment of D. caprae infestation in goats and it is necessary to repeat the treatment after 42 days. The method of application is highly advantageous as it can be conveniently applied, even in animals with thick hair coat and during the winter months.