Differences in signs and lesions in sheep and goats with enterotoxemia induced by intraduodenal infusion of Clostridium perfringens type D

Enterotoxemia was induced in 4 lambs and 4 goat kids by continuous intraduodenal infusion of a whole culture of Clostridium perfringens type D. Clinical signs, hematologic values, biochemical alterations, and postmortem lesions in the lambs and goat kids were compared. The 4 lambs and 4 goat kids died within 25 hours of beginning the infusions. Lesions were not observed in the gastrointestinal tract of the 4 lambs; however, severe hemorrhagic enterocolitis was found in the 4 goat kids. This difference between the lambs and goat kids in the lesions caused by experimentally induced enterotoxemia may explain the discrepancies reported between sheep and goats in clinical signs, response to treatment, and efficacy of vaccination observed in naturally induced enterotoxemia in the 2 species.     

Serum gamma globulin concentration in goat kids after colostrum administration: effect of time of administration, volume and type of colostrum

In this study, which was performed on a Dutch dairy goat farm, several aspects of the administration of colostrum to new-born goat kids were examined. Time of colostrum administration and amount and type of colostrum administered were compared. Effectiveness was measured as total serum protein content and gamma globulin fraction. No significant differences in serum gamma globulin titre were observed between kids that received colostrum at 30 or 60-90 minutes post partum, respectively. Titres were significantly lower in kids that received 100 ml of colostrum instead of 150-200 ml. The effect of sheep colostrum replacer or cow colostrum was also examined. Gamma globulin titres were significantly high with goat colostrum than with cow colostrum or sheep colostrum replacer, and titres were higher with cow colostrum than with sheep colostrum replacer. Based on the results of this experiment, the following protocol is suggested for colostrum administration to goat kids: single administration of 150-200 ml of goat colostrum within 90 minutes of birth. Use of cow colostrum is not advised because it may lead to transmission of paratuberculosis. Use of sheep colostrum replacer as a source of passive immunity is not recommended.     

Development of a contagious ecthyma vaccine for goats

OBJECTIVE: To identify a strain of contagious ecthyma virus from goats that possesses the appropriate characteristics for an effective vaccine for goats. ANIMALS: 25 goat kids used for vaccine development and 100 goat kids used for evaluation of vaccine efficacy. PROCEDURES: 5 strains of contagious ecthyma virus were tested in a vaccination-challenge study to identify the best strain to be the seed strain for a contagious ecthyma vaccine. The vaccine derived from the chosen viral stain was tested at 2 concentrations for efficacy in a vaccination-challenge study. RESULTS: 2 of 5 viral strains induced moderate to severe scabs following infection, and 3 viral strains protected the goats from wild-type virus challenge following vaccination. Viral strain 47CE was selected as the seed source for the production of a contagious ecthyma vaccine because of the larger vaccine-to-challenge scab formation ratio. Vaccine 47CE protected all goat kids (48/48) following challenge with the wild-type contagious ecthyma virus; all goat kids (32/32) in the control group had scab formation following challenge with the wild-type contagious ecthyma virus, which indicated no protection following administration of vaccine diluent. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A vaccine containing a caprine strain of contagious ecthyma virus used in goats appeared to provide the characteristics needed for an effective vaccine, including good scab production and protection from wild-type infection. This vaccine may potentially provide better protection for goats from contagious ecthyma than currently available vaccines labeled for sheep.     

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.     

Effect of vitamin E supplementation of sheep and goats fed diets supplemented with polyunsaturated fatty acids and low in Se

Vitamin E (VitE) and selenium (Se) are an essential part of the antioxidative functions of metabolism. There are situations of low supply of both micronutrients. As VitE is involved in ruminal biohydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and their protection against oxidation in metabolism, diets supplemented with PUFA may challenge VitE to an extent making recommended supplies insufficient. Twelve goats and sheep each were fed a diet supplemented with PUFA and characterised by low Se and limited VitE contents during the last 2 months of gestation and the first 2 months of lactation. The basal diet consisted of hay and concentrate. Six goats and sheep received extra VitE, while the control groups received no extra VitE. Blood and milk samples were taken. In addition, liver, heart muscle and spleen samples were obtained from the offspring after slaughtering at an age of 8 weeks. No significant changes were observed in serum Se and VitE. A significant increase in serum VitE concentrations between 2 and 4 weeks postpartum (pp) was evident in the supplemented kids. In 4, 6 and 8 weeks pp, the serum concentrations of VitE in the supplemented kids were significantly higher compared to the unsupplemented group. In the kids, VitE was higher in liver of the supplemented groups. There were no significant differences in response to extra VitE between sheep and goat. The kids responded to serum VitE different from that of lambs, as a significant difference was observed between supplemented and unsupplemented animals in the goat kids, but not the lambs. In conclusion, goats and sheep have to be viewed differently and may not be considered alike relating to VitE/Se metabolism and requirements, especially in young animals.     

Localisation of CD25+ cells and MHCII+ cells in lymph nodes draining Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis vaccination granuloma and the presence of a systemic immune response

Vaccination of goat kids against paratuberculosis protects against lesions and clinical disease. The systemic cellular response was studied in goat kids 3-9 weeks after vaccination. Peripheral blood cells showed increased interferon-gamma production and expression of interleukin-2 receptor (CD25) after stimulation with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis antigens. The lymph node draining the vaccination granuloma was studied three weeks after vaccination in a parallel group of goat kids. In deep cortex, MHCII+ cells were observed surrounded by CD4+ T-cells, while follicular hypertrophy and hyperplasia were prominent in the subcapsular region and along connective tissue trabecula. Comparison of the local and systemic immune responses revealed an inverse relationship between CD25+ T-cells in the lymph node deep cortex and cells in peripheral blood that up-regulate CD25 upon in vitro stimulation, suggesting that activated and regulatory T-cells in the local lymph node influence the level of circulating antigen-specific T-cells following vaccination against paratuberculosis in goats.     

Floppy kid syndrome caused by D-lactic acidosis in goat kids

BACKGROUND: Goat kids with floppy kid syndrome have metabolic acidosis, muscle weakness, and depression but no dehydration. HYPOTHESIS: D-Lactate is the major component of acidemia in goat kids with floppy kid syndrome. ANIMALS: Fifty-five goat kids with floppy kid syndrome (group F) and 35 clinically healthy goat kids (group C). METHODS: Clinical, biochemical, microbiologic, virologic, parasitologic, and pathologic examinations. RESULTS: The animals in group F had a blood pH of 7.13 +/- 0.11 and a base excess of -17.8 +/- 3.8 mM, which were both lower than the values in the control animals (pH, 7.32 +/- 0.31; base excess, -0.1 +/- 2.7 mM; P < .001). Floppy kids had a significantly larger anion gap than healthy kids (31.2 +/- 3.7 versus 21.5 +/- 8.5 mM; P < .001). The concentration of L-lactate was lower in floppy kids than in healthy kids (0.67 +/- 0.49 versus 1.60 +/- 1.02 mM), but the concentration of D-lactate was higher in floppy kids (7.43 +/- 2.71 versus 0.26 +/- 0.24 mM; P < .001). Intravenous and oral administration of sodium bicarbonate in floppy kids resulted in a significant increase in blood pH and base excess and a decrease in the anion gap (P < .001). In addition, the concentration of L-lactate increased (P = .039). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Metabolic acidosis in goat kids with floppy kid syndrome is caused by an increase in the plasma concentration of D-lactate.     

Net mineral requirements for growth of Saanen goat kids in early life are similar among genders

The current mineral requirements for growing goat kids are based on sheep and cattle studies without differentiating between the stages of development or gender. The aims of this study were to determine the net requirements for growth of Ca, P, Mg, Na and K of Saanen goat kids during the initial stages of growth and to analyse the effect of gender on the net requirements for growth of these macrominerals. Eighteen female, 19 intact male and 10 castrated male Saanen goat kids were studied. The kids were selected applying a completely randomized design and slaughtered when their body weight (BW) reached approximately 5, 10 and 15 kg to determine the mineral requirements for growth at these stages. The net mineral requirements for growth were similar among genders. The goat kids had slightly increased net requirements of Ca, P and Mg for growth with increasing BW from 5 to 15 kg. The net requirements for growth of Ca, P, Mg, Na and K ranged from 9.61 to 9.67 g/kg of BW gain, 7.14 to 7.56 g/kg of BW gain, 0.34 to 0.37 g/kg of BW gain, 1.26 to 1.13 g/kg of BW gain, 1.88 to 1.82 g/kg of BW gain as the animals grew from 5 to 15 kg respectively. In conclusion, when formulating diets for Saanen goat kids in early growth stage mineral levels do not need to adjusted based on gender.     

A field trial to evaluate a whole cell vaccine for the prevention of caseous lymphadenitis in sheep and goat flocks.

A field trial to evaluate a whole cell vaccine for the prevention of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) in sheep and goats was performed in one goat herd and one sheep flock over a period of three years. In goats, there was a nonstatistically significant trend for fewer cases of CLA in the vaccinated animals compared to the controls. In sheep, from six months to 36 months postinitial vaccination, the proportion of vaccinated sheep that developed CLA was significantly less (p less than 0.05) than in the control sheep. The antibody titers to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis as detected by microagglutination assay were significantly different (p less than 0.0001) at all times except at the initial vaccination. Swellings occurred at the vaccination site at an incidence level of 29.6% in goats and 34.1% in sheep. The vaccine appeared to be efficacious in reducing the proportion of sheep that developed CLA when challenged naturally in a field situation.     

Disease caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides LC in Hungarian goat herds

The occurrence of a goat disease caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides LC in Hungary is reported. The disease occurred in two goat herds in the spring of 1999. In one herd 25% of the 4-12 weeks old kids (10 animals) while in the other herd 33% of the 6-12 weeks old kids (20 animals) became affected. The goat kids developed polyarthritis. The most severe lesions developed in the carpal joints. All animals died after 3-8 days of disease. Four dead kids were necropsied. All of them had serofibrinous and purulent polyarthritis, and in two animals bronchopneumonia, fibrinous pleuritis and meningitis were also found. In the articular exudates the presence of mycoplasmas was detected by PCR using a general mycoplasma primer. Mycoplasmas were cultured from the joints of all animals, from the abdominal parenchymal organs of two kids and from the lungs of one animal. The cultured mycoplasmas grew in strikingly large colonies, proved to be glucose positive, arginine negative and phosphatase positive, and liquefied the coagulated serum. They survived incubation at 45 degrees C for more than 24 h. Based upon their biochemical properties, the results of the immunofluorescence (IF) and growth inhibition tests and the sequence analysis of the PCR product, the cultured strains were identified as M. mycoides subsp. mycoides LC. Animals purchased in the previous autumn had been introduced to both farms. The disease may have been introduced with asymptomatic carrier animals, as earlier no similar disease had been observed at either farm.     

A longitudinal study of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli in two dairy goat herds

A longitudinal study was conducted on two dairy farms to investigate the pattern of shedding of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) in goats. Faecal samples were taken from 20 goat kids once weekly during the first 4 weeks of life and then once every month for the next 5 months of life, and from 18 replacement animals and 15 adults once every month for 12 months. The proportion of samples containing VTEC was higher for replacement animals and adults (85.7% and 78.7%, respectively) than for goat kids (25.4%). About 90% of the VTEC colonies isolated from healthy goats belonged to five serogroups (O33, O76, O126, O146 and O166) but the most frequent serogroups of these isolates, except one, were different in the two herds studied. E. coli O157:H7 was found in three goat kids on only one occasion. None of the VTEC isolates, except the three E. coli O157:H7 isolates, was eae-positive. The patterns of shedding of VTEC in goat kids were variable, but, in contrast, most of the replacement animals and adults were persistent VTEC shedders. Our results show that isolates of VTEC O33, O76, O126, O146 and O166 are adapted for colonising the intestine of goats but that, in contrast, infection with VTEC O157:H7 in goats seems to be transient.     

Occurrence and genotype characterization of Giardia duodenalis in goat kids from the Canary Islands, Spain

Giardia duodenalis (syn. Giardia lamblia, Giardia intestinalis) is a wide-spread intestinal protozoa of both humans and animals. Although giardiosis in goat is commonly asymptomatic, young kids may bear an enteric disease associated with persistent diarrhoea and delayed weight gain. In the present study we have analysed the occurrence of Giardia in 315 young goat kids (2–6 months old) from Gran Canaria Island (Spain) through visualization of faecal cysts. The identification of genotypes of G. duodenalis among the farms was attained by nested PCR of the triophosphate isomerase (TPI) and single PCR of β-giardin genes and subsequent sequencing. Positive samples were found in 42.2% of the animals and 95.5% of the farms. Goat faecal specimens were positive for only livestock-associated G. duodenalis assemblage E genotype for both TPI and β-giardin genes. The genetic analysis of these two loci revealed the presence of different haplotypes among the farms included in the survey and high homology with homologous genes from cattle and sheep. Altogether, the data presented here provide additional information to the prevalence and genetic characterization of Giardia isolates. The absence of assemblages A and B in this study suggests that zoonotic transmission of Giardia from goats could be of low epidemiological significance, although these findings should be validated in studies including other geographical areas, age groups and larger number of samples.     

Prevalence and molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in lambs and goat kids in Belgium

The prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia was studied on 10 intensively reared sheep and goat farms in the province of East Flanders, Belgium. Random faecal samples were collected and examined using the Merifluor((R)) immunofluorescence assay. Cryptosporidium positive samples were withheld for molecular identification using primers targeting the 18S rDNA, 70 kDa heat shock protein and 60 kDa glycoprotein gene. For the molecular identification of Giardia the beta-giardin gene and a recently developed assemblage specific PCR based on the triose phosphate isomerase gene were used. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium in lambs was 13.1% (18/137), on 4 out of 10 farms. In goat kids the Cryptosporidium prevalence was 9.5% (14/148), on 6 out of 10 farms. The molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium positive isolates indicated that in lambs (n=10) the cervine genotype was predominant, whereas in the goat kids (n=11) only C. parvum was identified, with subgenotypes IIaA15G2R1 and IIdA22G1. The Giardia prevalence was 25.5% (35/137) in lambs with all 10 farms being positive, and 35.8% (53/148) in goat kids with 8 out of the 10 farms being positive. Both in the goat kids and in the lambs the host specific assemblage E was most commonly identified. However, the zoonotic assemblage A was identified in 6 out of 28 goat kids and in 2 out of 8 lambs, based on the beta-giardin sequence alignment. Using the assemblage specific PCR, mixed assemblage A and E infections were additionally identified in 2 lambs and in 5 goat kids. The results of the present study indicate that both Cryptosporidium and Giardia are common parasites on intensively reared sheep and goat farms in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, and that they are a potential source for zoonotic infections.     

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in goats. IX. The effect of vaccination against natural infection

A vaccination trial was carried out in 10 infected herds. The trial included 247 female kids, the number of animals in each herd varying from 15 to 38. About half of the animals in each herd were vaccinated twice at 3 to 4 week intervals, the first vaccination being carried out before the age of 4 months. A combination of a crude filtrate of C. pseudotuberculosis toxoid with whole organisms, was used. Overall, the prevalence of animals with superficial swellings was higher in the unvaccinated than in the vaccinated group during the first 1-2 years following immunization. However, in some herds superficial swellings were as common in vaccinated as in unvaccinated animals. An antibody response following vaccination was demonstrated in the hemolysis inhibition test, but not in the bacterial agglutination test. Superficial swellings were more common in vaccinated animals which were negative than in animals which were positive in the hemolysis inhibition test at 1 1/2 months after vaccination. The vaccine used in the present study, was not sufficiently efficacious to be recommended as the only protective measure against caseous lymphadenitis in Norwegian goat herds.     

Seroepidemiological study of Rift Valley fever (RVF) in animals in Saudi Arabia

Serological prevalence of IgG antibodies against Rift Valley fever (RVFV) virus was investigated in 22 major localities in five different regions of Saudi Arabia where vaccination against RVF virus (RVFV) is not practiced. The study excludes the southwestern region where a major outbreak of RVF occurred in 2000 and where annual vaccination of ruminants is practiced. Sheep and goat IgG-sandwich ELISA were used to test serum samples from sheep and goats, and bovine IgG-sandwich ELISA was used to test cattle sera. A nonspecies-specific, nonantibody isotype-specific ELISA was used to test camel sera. A total of 3,480 sheep, goats, cattle and camels with no previous history of vaccination against RVFV were randomly tested. All tested animals were negative for IgG class antibodies against the virus except four out of 1,508 sheep and three out of 913 goats, which tested positive. All animals were clinically normal and no evidence was found of virus activity in the studied areas. It is, therefore, most likely that those rare positive cases, which constituted 0.002% of the total animals tested, were either false positives or vaccinates smuggled from the outbreak zone. The need for regular monitoring of animals both within the outbreak zone of 2000 and other parts of the kingdom is strongly emphasized.     

Immunohistochemical observations on TSH secreting cells in pituitary glands of goat kids with congenital goitre

Pituitary glands of normal-termed stillborn goat kids with congenital goitre and normal-termed stillborn goat kids without congenital goitre were examined macroscopically, histopathologically and immunohistochemically. Thyroid glands of these animals were also examined grossly and microscopically. The pituitary glands of kids with goitre were larger than those of normal kids, and on histopathological examination there was hyperplasia of the acidophil cells in the ventral part of the glands. However, it was impossible to distinguish thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)-secreting cells from other acidophil cells in sections stained with haematoxylin and eosin (HE). Red granules were observed in the cytoplasm of these hyperplastic cells in periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-stained sections. Sections were also immunostained with an antibody against TSH using the streptavidin-biotin peroxidase technique. Immunohistochemistry revealed TSH-secreting cells to have increased in number in the pituitary glands of kids with congenital goitre because of the extensive proliferation when compared with those of normal kids. The present study indicated that the presence of multiple fetuses (twins or triplets) may be a predisposing factor for congenital goitre.     

Efficacy of alpha-cyclodextrin against experimental cryptosporidiosis in neonatal goats

The efficacy of orally administered tablets containing alpha-cyclodextrin, an excipient used in the pharmaceutical industry with demonstrated anticryptosporidial activity in vitro and in neonatal mice, was evaluated in neonatal goat kids. The formulation was evaluated for hardness and was subjected to in vitro drug release studies. Twenty goat kids were orally inoculated with 10(6) oocysts of C. parvum within the first 6 days of age. Half of the animals were treated by oral administration of four tablets of alpha-cyclodextrin/day (500 mg/kg of body weight) for six consecutive days, the treatment beginning on the day of inoculation. Infection was monitored by daily examination of faecal samples from the first day to 25 days post-inoculation. The criteria studied in evaluating efficacy were: oocyst shedding, presence of diarrhoea and weight gain at 15 and 25 days post-inoculation. alpha-cyclodextrin was effective when given at the beginning of infection: there was a longer pre-patent period, a reduction in the patent period and a decrease in the intensity of infection, these differences being statistically significant (P < 0.05) compared with untreated neonatal kids. Moreover, except in one animal, the diarrhoea was prevented in infected neonatal kids. Animals from both groups increased the body weight and no significant differences were seen between the two groups.     

Post vaccination and colostral peste des petits ruminants antibody dynamics in research flocks of Kirdi goats and Foulbe sheep of north Cameroon

We studied Kirdi goats and Foulbe sheep kept on-station at the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development (IRAD), Garoua to look at their immunological response following vaccination with a specific peste des petits ruminant (PPR) virus vaccine. Pre-vaccination PPR antibody seroprevalences were 44 and 29% in goats and sheep, respectively. Seroprevalences following vaccination were 100% in both species. Titres remained above the protection threshold level (1:10) in both species at 12 months. Maternal antibodies in young animals were detectable to up to 6 months of age but fell below the protection threshold level at 3.5 and 4.5 months in lambs and kids, respectively. Kids and lambs from immunised or exposed dams should be vaccinated at 4 and 5 months of age, respectively.     

Differences in the immune responses in lambs and kids vaccinated against paratuberculosis, according to the age of vaccination

In order to evaluate and compare the peripheral immune responses induced by the vaccination against paratuberculosis in relation with the age of immunization, two groups of lambs and goat kids were vaccinated at 15 days and 5 months old, respectively. A heat-killed commercial vaccine was inoculated subcutaneously and humoral and cellular immune responses were measured by an ELISA and IFN-gamma assay, respectively, at 0, 30, 90, 180, 270 and 360 dpv in the lambs and 0, 30, 90 and 180 dpv in the caprine. IFN-gamma values did not show statistically significant differences between both groups, but when compared to the unvaccinated controls, this cytokine response tend to disappear earlier in animals vaccinated at 15 days old. The antibody response was always higher and more persistent in animals vaccinated at 5 months. The possibility of the incomplete degree of maturation of the immune system in 15 days old animals as the cause of the differences in the immune response to vaccination is suggested.