Click here to view as a pdf: A Review Of Common Goat Diseases
By Darren Zimmerman, D.V.M.
As goats become more popular, it can be beneficial to do a quick review of some of the common goat problems producers run into, how to test, and some management strategies.
Small Ruminant Lentivirus (SRLV).
One of the common types of SRLV is CAE, Caprine Arthritis and Encephalitis Virus. This is a slow growing virus often spread from an infected doe at kidding. It is present in milk, fetal fluids, and other secretions.
CAE will present different ways in different aged animals. Kids often show neurologic signs like weakness in the rear legs or incoordination. The face and head may look twisted with drooling. They might even walk in circles. This will progress to recumbency and eventually death.
Older animals often get arthritis in one or several joints. Interstitial pneumonia and mastitis are other forms of the disease more often found in older animals. Animals showing these symptoms of CAE will be shedding virus and contagious. They should be quarantined until confirmed positive or culled.
Confirmation can be done with a blood test or with tissue samples sent to a lab. Because this virus grows slowly, it can take time for an animal to test positive after exposure. PCR will find the virus and ELISA will look for antibodies. ELISA may not test positive for CAE especially when it is early in the stage of infection. Also, goats can get OPP, the sheep form, and not be caught on the CAE test. Isolation at kidding, removing the kids from the doe as soon as possible, and thorough cleaning of the area, are the best ways to prevent its spread. Kids should be given colostrum from blood tested negative does or a commercial replacer.
Caseous lymphadenitis (CL)
Caseous lymphadenitis, CL, is a
bacterial infection with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. It can show up as an external form. This is when lymph nodes become enlarged and are filled with pus. These are often seen in front of the knees, in front of the shoulder, and along the jaw or neckline. The lymph nodes will eventually rupture and drain if left alone, contaminating the environment spreading the disease. It can also present as an internal form. The effect is the same, abscess formation, but the symptoms depend on what internal organs and tissues are affected.
There are vaccines on the market for CL. They appear to lessen the progression of the disease in the herd, but it is not a cure. Please work with your veterinarian for a vaccine plan that matches your farm. Antibiotics can be helpful. It is very difficult to get antibiotics into the center of a lymph node or abscess. Work with your veterinarian to decide when they are warranted.
Johne’s Disease
Johne’s disease is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis. It is transmitted by the fecal oral route. Unlike cattle, Johne’s doesn’t usually present with diarrhea in goats. Weight loss and ill thrift may be the only signs. Manure culture, manure PCR, or a blood ELISA test can make the diagnosis. Screening tests should be repeated yearly or when disease is suspected. This is a slow growing disease, and animals may not test positive for years.
Vaccines and treatments are not currently available.
Spontaneous Abortions
There are many reasons for goats to abort. It is also very difficult to diagnose the problem without laboratory testing. Here are a few common problems.
Nutrition: During incubation, a kid takes up space within the doe, making it more difficult for her to eat enough. As a result, the doe cannot sustain both her needs and the needs of the growing kid. A lack of nutrition can cause stress that leads to an early pregnancy loss. The nutritional stress also decreases the immune system’s ability to respond to diseases.
Caprine Herpes Virus I is often seen in the last trimester of pregnancy. It sits dormant in certain nerves of adults and will spread during times of stress. Swelling of the reproductive organs may present in does before abortion. Kids that get infected will spike fevers and often die from the infection. Diagnosis is by PCR or microscopic lesions in the fetal tissues. No commercial vaccines or treatments are available. However, cattle IBR vaccines have shown some cross protection. Work with your veterinarian to select a vaccine that fits your herd. 
Chlamydiosis is caused by a bacterium, Chlamydophila abortus. Often there are no symptoms except late term abortion. This is extremely contagious by contact with aborted materials. This infection disrupts the connection of the placenta between the kid and the doe in the uterus. Sending in samples of the placenta with the aborted fetus may be the only way to diagnose the infection. A blood test from the doe sometimes works. Antibiotics and vaccines are available. This disease can spread to people.
Coxiella burnetii is a bacteria that causes abortion in goats. Diagnosis and symptoms are similar to Chlamydiosis. Placenta submission is most important for diagnosis. No vaccines are available. Treatment with antibiotics may be helpful. This bacteria can cause Q Fever in people.
There are many types of Leptospira bacteria. Some of which can cause abortion in goats. Diagnosis can be from a blood test or tissues tests. Antibiotics could be helpful. Vaccines from other species can be protective. Work with your veterinarian on a vaccine and schedule that works for your farm. Lepto is shed in the urine of rodents and other animals getting into the feed and bedding of the goats. Feed and barn hygiene is important to stop its spread in the herd.
Parasites
External parasites include lice, mites, flies, ticks and sometimes fleas. The market is full of topical and parental treatments. Work with your veterinarian to make sure all your problems are covered.
Worms vs Coccidia
Worms and coccidia symptoms can be similar. These infections often show decreased growth rates, poor hair coats, and unthrifty animals. When infections are severe, diarrhea and anemia can be present. A fecal test can determine which are causing trouble in your herd. These two problems are often treated differently. Knowing which problem you have and how to treat it is important. Almost all “dewormers” do not treat coccidia and almost all treatments for coccidia do not deworm. There is also significant evidence for parasite resistance to treatments. FAMACHA scoring can be helpful for deworming programs but leaves out coccidia treatment or recognition until disease is severe or the animals are significantly compromised. Work with your veterinarian to come up with a testing and treatment plan for each, worms and coccidia.