Hydatid disease in a horse.

During routine necropsy of a 28-year-old horse with intestinal volvulus, numerous hydatid cysts were discovered in the liver. Viable protoscolices of Echinococcus granulosus were obtained from the cyst. As a 4-year-old, this horse had been imported from an area that is enzootic for equine hydatidosis.     

White liver disease in goats

Three field cases of ill-thrift, hepatic lipodystrophy and low tissue levels of vitamin B12 in young angora cross goats are reported. The cases meet the criteria for the diagnosis of white liver disease (WLD) described for sheep. The hypothesis that WLD is a metabolic consequence of cobalt/vit B12 deficiency in sheep and goats on a diet rich in propionate is developed, together with possible reasons for its occurrence in these species but not in cattle or red deer.     

Hydatid disease in Wales: 2. Eradication

The importance of hydatid disease in man and domesticated animals in Britain, and particularly in Wales, is reviewed. While the disease occurs throughout Wales the rural population in Powys shows the highest rate as estimated by hospital records and serological findings. The losses due to offal condemnation in sheep and cattle are estimated as at least 250,000. It is suggested that the feasibility of an area eradication scheme for Wales should be investigated; the form which this scheme might take is outlined.     

Hydatid disease in Whales: 1. Epidemiology

The literature on the epidemiology of hydatid disease in domesticated animals in Wales is reviewed and the results of a recent survey in a restricted area of Mid Wales summarised. In this survey the epidemiology of hydatid disease was studied with a view to the formulation of methods of control.     

Abscess disease in goats in the Sudan

The "abscess disease" was described in naturally infected goats for the first time in Sudan. An anaerobic respiratory deficient staphylococcus was isolated in pure form. The biochemical properties were studied. The disease was successfully reproduced in experimental goats.     

Epidemiological features of Morel's disease in goats

Morel's disease caused by Staphylococcus aureus subsp. anaerobius was diagnosed for the first time in Poland in October 2006 in a goat flock. A second infected flock was found two months later. The course of the disease in both flocks was observed for 15-17 months. Clinical manifestation was confined to abscesses located near major superficial lymph nodes, mostly: superficial cervical, subiliac, parotid and mandibular. At necropsy no other lesions were found. The incubation period was estimated at 3 weeks. Clinical signs were seen both in young and adult goats and up to 7 abscesses in one animal were noted. Abscesses tended to persist for 1 to 5 months, then rupture and heal completely. The initial high in-flock point prevalence in both flocks (93.6% and 84.4%) dropped to approximately 10-30% during next 3-4 months. Until the end of the observation period the in-flock point prevalence remained at this level and only single abscesses were observed, mainly in young animals. No influence of the concurrent caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) infection on the clinical course of Morel's disease was noticed. It is to be concluded that the clinical course of Morel's disease in a goat flock resembles caseous lymphadenitis (CLA). However, in Morel's disease abscesses occur more frequently in young goats and are located near, not inside, the lymph nodes, as in the case with CLA. Also, the incubation period of Morel's disease seems to be shorter (3 weeks versus 2-6 months in CLA).     

Foot and mouth disease in sheep and goats

Small ruminants play an important role in the epidemiology and transmission of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). The main reasons therefore are: FMD is difficult to diagnose as infected sheep not always show typical clinical symptoms or as the cardinal signs mimicked other diseases. Sheep and goats may be carriers. Infected herds which practice transhumance or are nomadic can spread the infection to other herds long before diagnose of the disease is established. Shipping and trade with live sheep and goats is much more common world wide than in other FMD susceptible species. Lack of registration of all sheep and goat herds (especially of small hobby herds) and lack of individual identifications signs (ear tags) may result in incomplete control measurements under FMD conditions. Basing on published experiences with the actual FMD epidemic in the UK and basing on the own experiences with the restrictions to prevent from spreading of the FMD from the UK to Germany suggestions for future disease control are made.     

Lysosomal storage disease caused by Sida carpinifolia poisoning in goats

A neurologic disease characterized by ataxia, hypermetria, hyperesthesia, and muscle tremors of the head and neck was observed for 2 years in a flock of 28 Anglo-Nubian and Saanen goats on a farm with 5 ha of pasture. Six newborns died during the first week of life, and five abortions were recorded. The predominant plant in the pasture was Sida carpinifolia. The disease was reproduced experimentally in two goats by administration of this plant. Three goats with spontaneous disease and the two experimental animals were euthanatized and necropsied. No significant gross lesions were observed. Fragments of several organs, including the central nervous system, were processed for histopathology. Small fragments of the cerebellar cortex, liver, and pancreas of two spontaneously poisoned goats and two experimentally poisoned goats were processed for electron microscopy. Multiple cytoplasm vacuoles in hepatocytes, acinar pancreatic cells, and neurons, especially Purkinje cells, were the most striking microscopic lesions in the five animals. Ultrastructural changes included membrane-bound vacuoles in hepatocytes, Kupffer cells, acinar pancreatic cells, Purkinje cells, and the small neurons of the granular cell layer of the cerebellum. Paraffin-embedded sections of the cerebellum and pancreas were submitted for lectin histochemical analysis. The vacuoles in different cerebellar and acinar pancreatic cells reacted strongly to the following lectins: Concanavalia ensiformis, Triticum vulgaris, and succinylated Triticum vulgaris. The pattern of staining, analyzed in Purkinje cells and acinar pancreatic cells coincides with results reported for both swainsonine toxicosis and inherited mannosidosis.     

Post-mortem examination in the diagnosis of Johne's disease in goats.

Post-mortem examinations play an important role in Johne’s disease programmes in Norway. The results of such examinations of samples of viscera from 2997 goats carried out during the 5-year period 1972–1976 are given. The investigations show that the demonstration of macroscopical changes in mesenteric lymph nodes and small intestine has only limited value as a guideline in the post-mortem diagnosis of Johne’s disease in goats. Often macroscopical changes were not seen or they were non-specific. Caseous and/or calcified foci in mesenteric lymph nodes in infected animals were demonstrated quite often whilst observed intestinal changes were strikingly few. Corrugation of the mucosa was rare. However, in sections of macroscopically unchanged intestine marked epithelioid cell infiltrations and abundant acid-fast bacilli were not uncommon. In sporadic cases productive inflammation with tubercle formation was seen in lymph nodes in infected animals.Bacteriological culture was by far the most reliable post-mortem diagnostic method. By this method 92% of the infected goats were detected. The corresponding figures for histological examination and microscopy were 54% and 47%, respectively.     

Control of paratuberculosis (Johne's disease) in goats by vaccination

After several years of unsuccessful efforts to eradicate paratuberculosis in goats in Norway by conventional methods such as general hygienic precautions and the isolation and slaughtering of clinically affected and serologically positive animals, a vaccination programme was initiated in 1967. The vaccine used consists of two live attenuated strains of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis suspended in a mixture of liquid paraffin, olive oil and pumice powder. The vaccine may be stored at 4 degrees C for two weeks, the dose is 1 ml and the goat kids are vaccinated at the age of two to four weeks. The efficacy of the vaccine has been judged mainly by post mortem examination of vaccinated and unvaccinated goats in the period 1967-82. During this period about 131,000 goats were vaccinated and, based on the post mortem examination of 15,219 goats, the infection rate was reduced from 53 to 1 per cent. Moreover, infection occurred almost exclusively in goats which for some reason or other had not been vaccinated or which had been too old when vaccinated. The results of these examinations showed that the adjuvanted vaccine with live M paratuberculosis bacteria offers a high degree of protection against paratuberculosis in goats.     

Neurologic disease putatively associated with ingestion of Solanum viarum in goats

Several Nubian-cross goats were evaluated because of chronic progressive neurologic disease. Physical and neurologic examination revealed signs consistent with diffuse cerebellar disease. Neurologic signs included generalized hyperresponsiveness, fine head tremors, wide-based posture, dysmetria, weakness, and horizontal nystagmus. No clinical improvement was noted after removing goats from affected enclosures. Histologic examination of cerebellar tissues revealed extensive vacuolation within the cytoplasm of Purkinje cells. The clinical and histologic lesions resembled closely findings that were associated with ingestion of Solanum spp in cattle and goats. Examination of enclosures revealed Solanum viarum (tropical soda apple) that had been heavily consumed by the goat herd. We hypothesized that ingestion of S. viarum caused the neurologic disorder.     

广西山羊莱姆病血清抗体的调查

1999年－2000年，对广西12个县的石山区和土丘陵区两类生态环境下活动的山羊随机采取血清1265份，用ELISA检测莱姆病血清抗体效价，其中石山区山羊血清639份，检出阳性血清5份，阳性率为0．78％，土丘陵灌丛林区山羊血清626份，检出阳性血清17份，阳性率为2．71％，总阳性率为1．73％（22／1265）。