Epizootic of external and internal abscesses in a large goat herd over a 16-year period

From 1973 through 1988, 518 external and internal abscesses were diagnosed in a large commercial goat herd. Of the 518 abscesses, 238 were primary and 280 were secondary abscesses in the same or other anatomic locations. During this period, the herd varied in size from 94 goats in 1973 to 431 goats in 1988. Abscesses in the jaw area were detected in 141 goats, 4 of which developed osteomyelitis of the mandible. Sternal abscesses were detected in 72 goats, with 2 also having osteomyelitis of the sternum diagnosed at necropsy. Most of the abscesses were in the jaw, sternal, facial, and cervical areas. Lung abscesses were diagnosed at necropsy in 20 goats that most recently had 1 or more superficial abscesses. Abscess incidence was 27.6% (112 of 406) in wethers and 22.9% (154 of 687) in does. Actinomyces pyogenes was isolated most frequently by bacteriologic culture of abscess specimens and about 3 times as often as was Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis or Staphylococcus sp, usually coagulase-positive S aureus. Bacteriologic culture of blood samples, taken during abscess episodes, yielded A pyogenes (n = 3) or C pseudotuberculosis (n = 1) in 3 goats. Results of antibiotic treatment of abscesses were disappointing, with little evidence of altering the course of the disease or sterilizing the abscess, despite the fact that the bacteria were susceptible in vitro to the antibiotics used. Excision of intact abscesses was the preferred treatment for abscesses of the jaw and facial areas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)