Lactose Intolerance in a Calf

Lactose intolerance was identified as the cause of bovine neonatal diarrhea. Glucose and xylose oral absorptions were normal whereas lactose absorption was reduced relative to normal calves. Lactase deficiency is common in people but rarely reported in animals. The treatment of whole milk with lactase alleviated the diarrhea.     

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.     

Prevention of scours in neonatal kids after oral administration of an organic acid solution

The purpose of this study was to evaluate under field conditions, the efficacy of mild organic acid solutions in the prevention of neonatal kid diarrhoea. At a goat farm, two experimental groups of approximately 120 kids each were formed. The kids of the first group were not submitted to any treatment and served as negative controls, whereas the kids of the second group received a solution of organic acids (Euroacid 50-L; Eurotec, Waterloo, Belgium) which was administered orally on the first and second day of life. Groups were compared with regard to the incidence of diarrhoea, its duration, and the mortality of the kids. The results showed that, in comparison with the control group, the morbidity, the mortality and the case fatality of the treated kids was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the duration of diarrhoea per sick kid was markedly reduced in the acidifier-treated group in comparison with the control animals (P < 0.05). Cultures of the diarrhoeic faeces from kids indicated that enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli, and more specifically strains that were positive for K88 and K99 antigens, were present in the particular farm. It was concluded that the administration of organic acids can be a helpful means in controlling scours in neonatal kids.     

Infectivity of Cryptosporidium parvum isolated from asymptomatic adult goats to mice and goat kids.

An experimental study was carried out in neonatal goat kids to examine the infectivity of Cryptosporidium oocysts, pattern of oocyst shedding and morphological changes in the intestine during the infection. Cryptosporidium oocysts isolated from adult asymptomatic goats, and identified as C. parvum by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used in this study. Of three 4-day-old goat kids, two were orally infected with C. parvum oocysts (10(5) oocysts in 10 ml PBS/kid). One goat kid given 10 ml PBS only by the oral route served as a control. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in the faeces of one infected kid on day 3 post-inoculation (pi) whereas in the other 6 days pi. The faecal oocyst counts gradually increased and the peak counts in the two kids were 2 x 10(6)g(-1) (on day 12 pi) and 3.2 x 10(6)g(-1) (on day 14 pi). The increase in faecal oocyst output coincided with diarrhoea in an infected kid from days 10-17 pi. Although the oocyst excretion declined gradually after the peak, both infected kids excreted oocysts until euthanized on days 20 and 22 pi. Light and scanning electron microscopic investigations of the ileum revealed the endogenous stages on the brush border of the enterocytes, infiltration of neutrophils and mononuclear cells into the lamina propria, atrophy, stunting and fusion of villi. For purposes of comparison, goat Cryptosporidium oocysts were inoculated orally (10(3) oocysts/mouse) to eight, 1-week-old mice. All experimental mice excreted oocysts from day 3 pi, and four infected mice continued to excrete oocysts up to day 42 pi. The experimental infection described in goat kids resembled the natural disease in terms of oocyst excretion, clinical signs and intestinal pathology. The ability of oocysts excreted by asymptomatic goats, to infect goat kids and mice is likely to have a major impact on the epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis in livestock and man.     

Birth to weaning kid traits from a complete diallel of Boer, Kiko, and Spanish meat goat breeds semi-intensively managed on humid subtropical pasture

Boer, Kiko, and Spanish meat goats were semi-intensively managed in a complete 3-breed diallel mating scheme to evaluate genetic effects on preweaning kid performance. Over a 6-yr period, 1,547 kids were born in March and May with 1,173 kids raised by their dams to weaning at 3 mo of age. March-born kids were lighter (P < 0.01) at birth, but had greater (P < 0.01) preweaning ADG and survival rates and heavier (P < 0.01) weaning weights than May-born kids. For birth weight, the direct Boer effect was positive (P < 0.01) and direct effects were negative (P < 0.01) for Kiko and Spanish. The direct Kiko effect for preweaning ADG was positive (P < 0.05), whereas other direct breed effects for ADG and all direct effects for weaning weight did not differ from 0 (P > 0.10). Maternal Boer effects were negative (P < 0.01) for birth weight and weaning weight, whereas maternal Kiko effects were significantly (P < 0.05) positive for preweaning ADG and weaning weight. Maternal Spanish effect was positive (P < 0.05) for birth weight, but did not differ from 0 (P > 0.5) for preweaning ADG or weaning weight. Heterosis for birth weight was exhibited (P < 0.01) for each pair of breed crosses, but only between Boer and Kiko for ADG and weaning weight. Kiko and Spanish dams had greater (P < 0.01) preweaning kid survival rates than Boer dams, but the former 2 did not differ (P = 0.72). Significant genetic variation was observed between meat goat breeds for kid performance to weaning. Maternal breed effects were more influential than direct breed effects. Boer goats were not superior to Kiko or Spanish for preweaning kid performance when semi-intensively managed on humid, subtropical pasture. Kiko should be a preferred breed and to a lesser extent Spanish for enhancing birth to weaning kid performance. Findings of this study emphasize the importance of proper doe breed selection in achieving desired kid performance to weaning in meat goats.     

Clotting profiles in newborn maltese kids during the first week of life.

The neonatal period is probably the only time when a higher incidence of spontaneous thromboembolic complications may occur in the otherwise normal, healthy individual. This study was designed to determine the postnatal development of the kid coagulation system. Ten clinically healthy and full-term-born Maltese kid goats (5 males and 5 females) were used. In each kid, during the first week after birth, the prothrombin time (PT), the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), the thrombin time (TT), and fibrinogen were assessed. Analysis of variance showed a highly significant effect of age on PT, TT, and fibrinogen. Our results of this study indicate that the clotting mechanism in kids is influenced by growth. This investigation contributes to the knowledge of clotting adaptations in kids during the first 7 days of life and provides useful information for the diagnosis and treatment of some neonatal diseases.     

Enzootic ataxia and caprine arthritis/encephalitis virus infection in a New England goat herd [corrected

Ataxia was diagnosed in kids from a New England goat herd. Concurrent infection with the caprine arthritis/encephalitis (CAE) virus contributed to the development of hind limb ataxia and weakness in one of the kids. Six kids from this herd had signs of hind limb ataxia and paralysis. Detailed evaluation of 2 of the affected kids revealed low liver and serum copper concentrations and spinal cord demyelination. One kid also had histologic changes in the CNS and lungs, compatible with a diagnosis of CAE. Serum copper concentration was determined in affected goat kids and their dams and was compared with serum copper concentration in clinically normal kids and their dams from the same herd. Serum copper concentration also was measured in dams and kids in a control herd that had no history of ataxia. The mean serum copper concentration in affected kids was 0.125 microgram/ml, compared with 0.45 microgram/ml in unaffected kid herdmates. Kids from the control herd had mean serum copper concentration of 0.6 microgram/ml. Mean serum copper concentration in dams of kids with neurologic signs also was low (0.25 microgram/ml), compared with that (0.5 microgram/ml) in dams of clinically normal kids of the affected herd and that (0.95 microgram/ml) in dams of kids of the control herd. Results of a serologic survey (by use of agar gel immunodiffusion) of the affected herd for CAE indicated that 69.5% of the goats were seropositive. Dietary copper intake was determined to be adequate in this goat herd; therefore, copper deficiency appeared to be conditioned by an interfering substance. However, a search for interfering substances was unrewarding.     

Cerebral infarction and meningoencephalitis following hot-iron disbudding of goat kids

CASE HISTORY: Twelve of 150 goat kids, 4–10 days old, died 3 days after disbudding with a hot iron. Another 18 kids had been ill the previous day but survived following antibiotic therapy. Five of the dead kids were necropsied.

PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: There was necrosis and haemorrhage of the skin, subcutaneous tissues and frontal bone at disbudding sites in all five kids examined post mortem. Beneath disbudding sites in 4/5 kids there were bilateral, dark red, often cavitated areas of necrosis extending deep into the frontal cortex of the brain. Histologically, these areas consisted of coagulation necrosis, haemorrhage, vascular thrombosis and suppurative inflammation. Numerous bacteria, predominantly large Grampositive rods, were present in the necrotic brain tissue. In the remaining kid, bilateral areas of yellow discolouration and flattening of gyri in frontal lobes corresponded histologically to extensive polioencephalomalacia. A mixed growth of aerobes and anaerobes was cultured from the brain of one kid with suppurative lesions.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Thermal disbudding of neonatal kids is widely practised in dairy goat herds and is considered the method of choice for disbudding in New Zealand. However, the skull of goat kids is much thinner than that of calves and the safety margin for thermal injury to the brain is markedly reduced. This report highlights the risks associated with the technique and its potential as a welfare issue.     

An outbreak of neurofilariosis in young goats

An outbreak of cerebrospinal microfilariosis in 23 kids, representing a whole kid crop, occurred on a farm in Qassim, Central Saudi Arabia. The morbidity and mortality rates were 100%. Clinical signs, in kids from the fourth to sixth week of age, manifested as weakness in the hind legs followed by incoordination of movement and feet dragging. Seven to ten days later, the hind legs were completely paralyzed, and within a week the front legs were also paralyzed. The animals continued to feed, drink and suckle normally, and were in good health. Paralyzed kids were helped to suckle by the farm attendants. With time, loss of control of motor functions occurred and the ability to hold the head in upright position was lost, ability to eat or drink was lost. The infected kids health deteriorated and they eventually died. Two dead kids were postmortemed. With the exception of a meningeal haemorrhage seen in one kid, no obvious macroscopic lesions were seen in any of the autopsied animals. Histopathological examination of the spinal cord and brain showed different microfilaria of different sizes between the meninges and the nervous tissue. This indicated that development of the parasite occurred in the nervous tissue. The larger microfilaria contained black deposits, most likely to be digested blood, in their guts. It is likely that the parasites are haematophagus. The main lesions caused by the microfilaria were migratory traumatic haemorrhagic tracts in the spinal cord and the brain. These sometimes contained parts of the microfilariae. In the brain malacic lesions and sporadic aggregates of lymphocytes were also noted.     

Serologic diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in experimentally infected pregnant goats and transplacentally infected kids

Eight pregnant goats were inoculated orally with 10 to 1,000 oocysts of Toxoplasma gondii at 83 to 102 days of gestation. Serum samples from the goats and from the kids born to them were analyzed, using the Sabin-Feldman dye test (DT), a commercially available modified agglutination test (MAT), and a latex agglutination test. Six of the does were observed for greater than 1 year; during this time, they delivered twice. All does developed DT and MAT antibody titers of greater than or equal to 1:2,048 within 29 days after inoculation, and the high titers persisted through the 2nd pregnancy; therefore, serologic results alone should not be relied on for the diagnosis of T gondii-induced abortion in does. On the other hand, all transplacentally infected kids had DT or MAT antibody titers of 1:2,048 before ingesting colostrum, indicating the usefulness of serologic evaluation of the fetus or stillborn kid in the diagnosis of abortion. Antibody was not found in the sera of noninfected kids born to Toxoplasma-infected does. The passively acquired colostral antibody declined by 5 months. Therefore, specific antibody found in adult goats is probably actively acquired. The commercially available MAT was simple, sensitive, and reliable for the diagnosis of caprine toxoplasmosis. The latex agglutination test needs further improvement, as titers rarely exceeded 1:256.     

Carcass composition and meat quality of equally mature kids and lambs

Carcass composition and meat quality attributes of 55 suckling kids (27 males and 28 females) and 57 suckling lambs (28 males and 29 females) of Portuguese native breeds were investigated. These suckling kid and lamb meats are European meat quality labels produced according to "Cabrito de Barroso- PGI" and "Borrego Terrincho-PDO" specifications, respectively. Female kids were slaughtered at 9.1 +/- 0.36 kg of BW, and male kids were slaughtered at 10.4 +/- 0.37 kg of BW, corresponding to 20.1 and 17.7% of maturity, respectively. Female lambs were slaughtered at 8.6 +/- 0.53 kg of BW, and male lambs were slaughtered at 9.9 +/- 0.23 kg of BW, corresponding to 19.9 and 17.1% of maturity, respectively. At 24 h postmortem, various yield and quality measurements were collected. The left sides of the carcasses were dissected into muscle, subcutaneous fat, intermuscular fat, and bone. Final pH, instrumental color (L*, a*, b*), carcass measurements, and kidney knob and pelvic fat were also determined. Samples of LM were taken from the lumbar and thoracic cuts for intramuscular and meat quality determinations. At 72 h postmortem, a sample of LM was used for cooking losses and Warner-Bratzler shear force determination. Suckling lambs had greater dressing proportion than suckling kids (P < 0.01). Carcass fatness was not affected by species (P > 0.05), but females had greater kidney knob and pelvic fat proportion than males (P < 0.01). Lambs had greater proportions of the highly valued leg cut and lower proportions of shoulder, anterior rib, and neck cuts than kids. Dissection results indicated that kid carcasses had greater muscle content and lower dissected fat and bone than lambs. Kids had greater (P < 0.001) muscle ultimate pH value than lambs (5.8 +/- 0.02 vs. 5.6 +/- 0.02). Males had greater (P < 0.05) muscle ultimate pH value than females (5.7 +/- 0.02 vs. 5.6 +/- 0.02). The kid meat was significantly lighter (P < 0.05) and less yellow (P < 0.001) than the lamb meat. Kids presented less cooking losses (P < 0.001) than lambs, and shear force value was significantly greater (P < 0.01) in lamb meat. The kid meat had significantly more moisture (P < 0.001) and less intramuscular fat content (P < 0.001) than lambs. At this maturity stage, there were significant differences on both carcass and meat quality attributes of suckling kids and lambs, possibly due to inherent differences between species.     

Vigour in West African Dwarf kids within the first 24 h post-partum

One hundred and fifty West African Dwarf (WAD) kids were tested at the National Goats Breeding Station to determine the effects of some neonatal factors on their vigour levels within the first 24 h post-partum. The kids were also tested to establish the relationship between maternal weight, rectal temperature, times of first standing and sucking, sucking period and vigour. The distance covered (in meters) by a kid towards its mother during a 5-min test period was considered as vigour trait. Vigour levels increased significantly (p?<?0.05) with increasing age within the first 24 h post-partum. Kids born to second parity mothers had higher (p?<?0.05) vigour than those born to first parity mothers. Similarly, high birth weight kids had higher (p?<?0.05) vigour levels than low birth weight kids. Weak positive and negative correlations (p?<?0.05), respectively, were found between vigour and rectal temperature, and vigour and the time of first successfully standing. However, there was moderate positive correlation (p?<?0.01) between vigour and sucking period. The time it took for the newborn kid to stand up for the first time also correlated weakly and negatively (p?<?0.01) with the duration of sucking by the newborn within the first 5 min of accessing the teat. Vigour within the first 24 h post-partum in WAD kids increased with increasing age, parity and birth weight and might be responsible for the earlier and longer sucking time and periods, respectively, in high birth weight kids and those dropped by multiparous does.     

An experimental study on the pathogenicity of the caprine herpesvirus type 1 (CHV-1).

The pathogenicity of caprine herpesvirus type-1 (CHV-1) in goat kids and lambs was studied. Two experiments were carried out. In the first, two Saanen goat kids and four lambs of a local breed were infected intravenously with the Swiss strain E/CH of the virus. Clinical reaction was severe in the kids, but it was very mild in the lambs. Virus was excreted from the kids in higher titres and longer than in lambs. Virus was also isolated from tissue specimens but only from a kid that died on post inoculation day 4 (PID 4). The gross- and histopathological lesions were more severe in kids. In the second experiment only lambs were used. They were dexamethasone treated and then virus inoculated. A very mild infection developed. The lambs did not shed the virus, neither the virus was isolated from their tissues collected at necropsy. Nevertheless histopathological lesions were seen. In both experiments the animals seroconverted on PID 10.     

Transfer of maternal passive immunity to kids in goat herd

The efficiency of tranfer of maternal immunity and its infuence on the kids' health was observed in a herd in which kids (n=20) had whole contact with the dam (n=13). The factors associated with dam, kid and human, which influence the efficiency of passive transfer were observed. It was estimated that the single-born kids reached higher serum gamma-globulin level (mean 23.14 g/dm3) than twin kids (mean 18.2 g/dm3) (p < 0.05). The gamma-globulin level was the highest in single-born kids at 48 h, and in twin kids in 24 h of life. The IgG class antibodies to herd-homologous strains of Pasteurella multocida and Escherichia coli were estimated using ELISA in sera, colostrum and milk whey samples of dams and sera of kids. It was found that maternal antibodies specific to these two facultative pathogens decreased in kids sera rapidly and the self humoral immune response occurred within the period of observation. Two kids delivered by goats with lowest hierarchic position in the herd showed failure of passive transfer, and died at the 10th and 12th weeks of life due to chronic infections induced by both above mentioned bacterial strains.     

Abortion and death in goats inoculated with Sarcocystis sporocysts from coyote feces

Ten 75- to 105-day-pregnant does each were inoculated orally within 1 million (2 does), 10,000 (4 does), or 1,000 (4 does) sporocysts of Sarcocystis from coyote feces. Two does not inoculated with sporocysts served as controls. The 2 does inoculated with 1 million sporocysts died from acute sarcocystosis 21 and 22 days after inoculation (DAI), and each had 2 dead fetuses. The 4 does inoculated with 10,000 sporocysts were ill 19 to 33 DAI but survived; 1 aborted at 33 DAI, 1 had a live kid that died within 2 hours of birth 31 DAI, 1 aborted 2 dead fetuses 23 DAI, and 1 had a normal kid 56 DAI. The 4 does inoculated with 1,000 sporocysts and the 2 control does remained clinically normal and had normal kids. Does and their offspring were killed within 24 hours of parturition, and their tissues were examined histologically and microbiologically. Meronts of Sarcocystis were found in the maternal placenta of does inoculated with 1 million sporocysts. Sarcocystis was not found in the placenta, fetuses, or tissues of kids from does inoculated with 10,000 or 1,000 sporocysts, or from control does. Other abortifacient agents were not found in the placenta, fetuses, or kids from any does.     

影响哺乳期羔羊生长的母羊因素分析

为探索母羊因素对哺乳期云上黑山羊羔羊生长发育的影响,根据母羊体重、胎次分别选取云上黑山羊初生羔羊90只和120只,公、母各半,从出生开始直至90日龄断奶,每10天进行1次体重测定,进行生长发育分析.结果表明:①母羊产后体重对羔羊初生重、哺乳期体重具有显著影响(P<0.05).母羔中,38～45 kg母羊组和48～62 ...     

Effects of kefir on coccidial oocysts excretion and performance of dairy goat kids following weaning

The aim of this study was to investigate effects of kefir, a traditional source of probiotic, on coccidial oocysts excretion and on the performance of dairy goat kids following weaning. Twin kids were randomly allocated to one of two groups at weaning. Kids of the first group received 20 ml of kefir daily for 6 weeks (KEF), while kids in the control group were given a placebo (CON). Individual faecal samples were regularly (n = 18 per kid) taken to quantify the number of coccidial oocysts per gram of faeces (OpG). There were no differences between the groups in terms of body weight development (P > 0.05) and feed consumption. Kids of both groups were not able to consume enough feed to meet their nutrient requirements during the first 3 weeks following weaning. KEF had a lower frequency of OpG positive samples than CON (P = 0.043). Kefir did not affect the maximum oocyst excretion and age of the kids at the highest oocyst excretion (P > 0.05). KEF shed numerically 35% lower coccidial oocysts than the controls, which corresponded to a statistical tendency (P = 0.074) in lowering Log-OpG in comparison to CON. While KEF had a lower frequency of OpG positive samples and tended to shed lower OPG by around one-third, the frequency of diarrhea, level of highest oocyst excretion, and performance of the kids remained unaffected. Therefore, it is concluded that overall effects of kefir do not have a significant impact on sub-clinical infection and performance in weaned kids under relatively high-hygienic farming conditions.     

Growth performance of Black Bengal,Saanen, and their crossbred F1 as affected by sex,litter size,and season of kidding

The objective of the present study was to determine the factors that influenced growth performance of the goat kids of Black Bengal (BB), Saanen (SA), and their crossbred F1 (male Bengal × female Saanen [BBSA] and male Saanen × female Black Bengal [SABB]). Data for 674 kids were analyzed from 316 litters and 134 does. All kids were weekly measured on their characteristics (body weight, length, height at the withers, and chest girth) from birth to 11 weeks old. The kid’s breed and sex, litter size, and season of kidding influenced birth weight and other characteristics through the experiment. The SA and BBSA kids showed similar performance, which were higher than BB and SABB kids. Male kids had higher performance than female kids, and kids from a single litter showed the highest performance. Kids born during rainy season showed lower performance than those born in hot and cool seasons. In conclusion, the crossbred BBSA is superior to SABB or BB to raise in tropical climate Moreover, sex, litter size, and kidding season also affected growth performance during the preweaning period up to 11 weeks old.     

Implementation of herd health program to improve survival of Boer goats in Malaysia

A Boer goat breeding farm with 800 heads of breeder females, 50 breeder males, and 400 growing goats of various ages in Sabah, Malaysia was selected to study the effect of implementing herd health program. This included vaccination program against pneumonic mannheimiosis; fecal monitoring for helminthiasis, coccidiosis, and colibacillosis; and introduction of modified feeding regime comprised of day-time grazing and feeding of cut grass and supplemented feed. The herd health program was implemented in September 2007 and the impact was observed on body weight gains, body scoring, and annual mortality among adults and kids. It was found that implementation of herd health program significantly (p < 0.05) increased the average body weight gains in both adults and kids from 1.8 g per kid and 0.6 g per adult in 2006 to 3.7 g per kid and 2.2 g per adult in 2008. The percentage of adults with body scoring of <3 was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced from 82.3% in 2006 to 77.6% in 2007 and 4% in 2008. Similarly, the annual mortality rate was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced from 6.5% among kids and 58.2% among adults in 2006 to 12.1% among kids and 10.4% among adults in 2007, and to 9.1% among kids and 1.1% among adults in 2008. Therefore, it was concluded that implementation of herd health program significantly improved the survival and performance of goats.     

Toxoplasma gondii-induced abortion in dairy goats

Three of 8 goats on a Maryland farm aborted or had dystocia associated with toxoplasmosis during the winter of 1984. Doe 1 aborted a decomposed fetus 30 days before term. Modified agglutination test (MAT) antibody titers against Toxoplasma gondii were found in pleural fluid of the fetus (1:1,024) and in serum of doe (1:4,096 at 31 days after abortion). Doe 2 aborted a fetus 5 days before term; MAT antibody was found in the pleural fluid of the fetus (1:16,384) and in the doe's serum (1:4,096 on the day of abortion). Placenta from both does had foci of necrosis characteristic of toxoplasmosis, and T gondii was identified in lesions. Doe 3 had dystocia 7 days before term and a partially decomposed fetus was delivered by cesarian section; MAT was found in pleural fluid of the fetus (1:1,024) and in serum from the doe (1:4,096 on the day of abortion). Focal gliosis and calcification were seen in brain specimens from 2 of the 3 fetuses. None of the does produced milk after abortion. Two other does (No. 4 and 5) delivered apparently healthy kids transplacentally infected with T gondii; MAT in serum of both does was 1:4,096. Doe 4 delivered 3 kids; MAT titer in a serum from each kid 38 days after birth was 1:16,384. Doe 5 delivered 1 kid with a serum MAT titer of 1:1,024 at 38 days after birth. The 3 remaining does had MAT titers of 1:256, 1:16, and 1:16, and all delivered healthy kids. Epizootiologic evidence suggested that the does acquired T gondii infection from oocysts passed in feces of domestic cats on the farm. The MAT titers of 4 cats on the farm were 1:65,356; 1:1,024; 1:16; and 1:1,024.