Transcript Sheep & Goat Health Common Problems and Solutions

Sheep & Goat Health
Common
Problems
and Solutions
SUSAN SCHOENIAN
Goat and Sheep Specialist
Maryland Cooperative Extension
www.sheepandgoat.com
www.sheep101.info/201/diseasesa-z.html
Health care in sheep and goats
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Boer x Kiko
Starts with Prevention
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Biosecurity
Vaccination program
Parasite control
Good nutrition
Early detection and
treatment
Culling
Predator control
Biosecurity
Security from transmission of infectious diseases, parasites, and pests
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Buy from reputable
breeders.
 Know the health status
of the animals you are
purchasing.
 Maintain a closed
flock/herd.
 Limit showing/
exhibiting.
 Isolate new animals for
at least 30 days.
Biosecurity
Security from transmission of infectious diseases, parasites, and pests
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Don’t loan or share rams or
bucks.*
Don’t breed ewes or does for
other producers.*
Do not mix your animals with
other people’s animals.*
Don’t share equipment unless
it is disinfected after each use.
Don’t let your shearer spread
disease.
Limit access to your
farm/animals.
Control cat, dog, bird, and
rodent populations.
*Unless other farm/animals have equal health status.
Sound Vaccination Program
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Clostridial diseases
Clostridium perfringins type C & D
(overeating disease/enterotoxemia)
Clostridium tetani (tetanus)
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Vaccinate ewes/does 2-6 weeks before parturition
Vaccine lambs/kids at ~6 and ~10 weeks of age
Vaccine rams, bucks, and wethers annually
Other diseases you could
vaccinate for*
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Some types of abortion
Soremouth
Caseous lymphadenitis (CL)
Foot rot
Pneumonia
E. coli scours
Other clostridial diseases
Rabies
*Depends on disease prevalence and risk.
Deworming Parasite Control Program
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Good management
Pasture rest/rotation
Alternative forages
Zero grazing
Mixed species grazing
Genetic selection
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between and within breeds
Fecal egg counts
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Monitor pasture contamination
Test for drug resistance
 Selective deworming
Good nutrition
Better nutrition means stronger immune systems and disease resistance.
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Feed balanced rations.
 Feed according to
production cycle and
growth stage.
 Supplement pasture and
forage, when necessary
and economical.
 Provide free choice
minerals.
 Choose proper feeds for
sheep and goats.
Early detection and treatment
Early diagnosis is key to the control of health problems.
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Know common signs of illness
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Loss of body condition
Poor appetite
Lag behind flock/herd
Lethargy
Ears or head down (tail down)
Poor hair/wool coat
Teeth grinding (pain)
Dirty hocks, tail, britch (scours)
Anemia (barber pole worm)
Fever (infection)
normal body temp is 102-103°F
Breathing (respiratory)
Gait (neurological)
Culling
Culling is one of the most powerful tools in managing animal health.
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Most problems have a
genetic component
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Foot rot
Parasites
Vaginal, rectal prolapses
Inverted eye lids
Most disease conditions
will repeat or get worse
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Hoof problems
Mastitis
Vaginal prolapses
Vaginal prolapse
Control predation
Predation accounted for 37.3% of sheep and goat losses in 2005.
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Predator control options
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Fencing
Management
Livestock guardians
Lethal control
coyotes, dogs, bears, mountain lions, cougars, foxes, eagles, bobcats, wolves, vultures
Fencing
Predator control starts with a good fence.
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High-tensile, electric
 Woven or net wire
 Electric netting
 Modify existing fences
 Predator-proof gates
Management Options
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Remove dead carcasses and
anything else that attracts predators.
Complete confinement.
Lamb/kid in confinement.
Night penning.
Minimize use of high risk pastures.
Don’t lamb or kid in remote areas or
large pastures.
Change lambing/kidding season.
 Fall lambing/kidding tends to
reduce predator losses.
Repellents, frightening devices.
Aversive conditioning.
Livestock Guardians
45% of sheep farms employ livestock guardians.
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Guardian dogs (29.6%)
Great Pyrenees, Komondor, Akbash,
Anatolian Shepherd, Maremma, Mastiff
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Llamas (14.2%)
(female or gelding, not alpacas)
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Donkeys (11.4%)
(standard sized, gelding or jenny)
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Cattle – “flerd”
need to be bonded
Lethal Predator Control
Last resort, but sometimes necessary.
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Shooting
Trapping (foot hold, snare)
Denning
Livestock protection collar*
M-44 cyanide injector*
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Make sure you know the
laws in your state/county.
*Requires assistance of USDA
APHIS Wildlife Services
Health problems of sheep and goats
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Major health issues
 Other common
problems
 A few other diseases
 Wasting diseases
The major health issues
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Goats eating chicory
Internal Parasites
Foot rot
Diarrhea
Respiratory
Predation
Internal Parasites
# 1 health problem affecting sheep and goats in warm, moist climates.
 Stomach/round
worms
barber pole worm
Tapeworms
 Lungworms
 Liver Flukes
 Meningeal worm
 Coccidiosis
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Coccidiosis
eimera sp.
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Single-cell protozoa that damages
the lining of the small intestines,
where nutrient absorption occurs.
Can permanently stunt animals.
Species-specific
Causes scouring, weight loss, and
death in lambs/kids.
Stress-induced
NADIS
Coccidiosis
eimera sp.
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Diagnosis
 Fecal oocyte counts are of limited
diagnostic value.
 Treatment (requires extra label drug use)
 Corid (Amprolium)
 Sulfa drugs
 Prevention
 Good sanitation
 Avoid overcrowding
 Use of coccidiostats in feed,
mineral, or water (before hand)
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Bovatec® (lasalocid) **
Rumensin® (monensin)*
Deccox® (Decoquinate) **
Corid (lower dose than treatment)
* Toxic to equines. ** Do not feed to equines.
http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/coccidtable.html
Foot rot
One of the most economically devastating diseases in the sheep/goat industry.
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Highly contagious.
Caused by the interaction of two
anaerobic bacteria:
1) Bacteroides nodosus
in sheep/goat’s hoof
(can only survive 10-14 days)
2)
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Fusobacterium necrophorum
in soil and manure (always)
Most people BUY foot rot!
Lameness is symptom.
Gets in hoof.
Has characteristic foul odor.
Treat with aggressive hoof trimming,
foot baths/soaks, antibiotics, moving to
dry area, vaccination, and culling.
http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/sheep/410-028/410-028.html
Foot Scald (is not foot rot)
interdigital dermatitis, benign foot rot, non-virulent foot rot
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Not contagious.
An infection between the toes.
No involvement of the hoof.
Caused by Fusobacterium
necrophorum, the bacteria that
is always present on sheep
and goat farms.
Activated by damp, muddy
conditions; goes away when
it’s dry.
Can treat/control with foot
baths/soaks, moving to a dry
area.
Environmental
Diarrhea (scours)
An increased frequency, fluidity, or volume of fecal excretion.
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Infectious
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-- many causes --
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Viral
Bacterial
E.coli, salmonella
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Protozoa
coccidia, cryptosporidia
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Non-infectious
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Parasites
Nutrition
Management
Stress
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Often a symptom of other problems. Often self-limiting. Determine cause!
 Treatment: rehydration, antibiotics (if fever), antidiarrheal drugs (peptobismal, kaopectate, immodium), probiotics (yogurt).
http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/scours.html
Respiratory Problems
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Respiratory complex:
pasteurella sp., mycoplasma,
chlamydia, Parainfluenza
type 3 virus, etc.
Pasteurella sp. most common
agent.
Characterized by high fever
(106-108°F)
May result in lung abscesses
at slaughter.
Poor ventilation is a leading
cause of respiratory
problems.
Treat with antibiotics
Other causes: OPP, lungworms, nasal bots, ketosis, acidosis
Other Common Problems
Nutritional
 Reproductive
 Skin
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Nutritional / Metabolic
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Pregnancy toxemia
 Milk fever
 Enterotoxemia
 Floppy kid syndrome
 Acidosis
 Urinary calculi
 Polioencephalomalacia
 Listeriosis
 Bloat
 Copper-related
 Selenium-related
Enterotoxemia
Overeating disease, pulpy kidney disease
Caused by bacteria, clostridium perfringins type C & D
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Usually occurs in lambs/kids that are
consuming large amounts of concentrate,
but may also occur on pasture and with
heavy milking dams
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Type C - 0-30 days
Type D - >30 days
Usually affects fastest growing
lambs/kids. It is not uncommon
to find them dead, with no
prior symptoms.
Predisposed by abrupt change in feed.
Treatment (anti-toxin) is usually unrewarding.
Prevention
 Vaccination of pregnant dams and
offspring*
 Avoid sudden changes in diet
don’t let creep feed run out
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Low level feeding of antibiotics
Plenty of feeder space
*Vaccine is not as effective in goats.
Floppy kid syndrome
First documented in 1987
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Affects kids between 3 and
10 days of age
(normal at birth)
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Most common late in
kidding season.
Causes muscle weakness,
ataxia.
Cause unknown, but
suspected to be gastrointestinal, a metabolic
acidosis.
Treat with sodium
bicarbonate and supportive
therapy.
(Lactic) Acidosis
Grain overload, grain poisoning
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Caused by excessive
consumption of concentrates/grain
which changes acidity of rumen.
Treat with antacids, sodium
bicarbonate.
Prevent with proper feed
management.
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Introduce and increase grain
slowly in diet.
Feed whole grains, grains that
digest slower
Include forage in diet.
Split grain feedings; feed forage
first.
Buffering agents.
Urinary Calculi
Water belly, urolithiasis, calculosis, kidney stones
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Blockage of urethra by
calculi (stones) causes
retention of urine.
 Wethers are most prone
(early castration).
 Treatment depends upon
severity of condition.
 Usually caused by too
much phosphorus in the
diet, i.e. an imbalance of
calcium and phosphorus in
the ration (< 1:1).
Urinary Calculi
Water belly, urolithiasis, calculosis, kidney stones
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Proper ration balancing
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Ca:P ratio should be at least 2:1.
Legumes are a good source of calcium.
Cereal grains have a poor ratio of Ca:P.
Commercial feeds are balanced for Ca
and P.
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Do not add anything to balanced
rations.
Ground limestone can be added to the
ration as a source of calcium.
Free choice minerals do not ensure
proper intake of minerals.
Adequate water intake important
Salt in ration
(0.5% ammonium chloride in diet)
Polioencephalomalacia
PEM, polio, cerebrocortical necrosis
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Affects the central nervous
system.
Mimics other neurological
conditions.
Caused by a thiamin (Vitamin
B1) deficiency
not insufficient thiamine, but the inability
to utilize it
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Symptoms: blindness, star
gazing.
Usually occurs in animals on
high concentrate diets, but may
also occur on pasture.
Treat with thiamine injections.
Listeriois
circling disease
Caused by bacteria Listeria monocytogenes
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Occurs 4-6 weeks after bacteria
is consumed.
Results in neurological
symptoms: depression,
disorientation, head tilt, facial
paralysis, walking in circles.
Most commonly associated with
the feeding of moldy silage.
High mortality; uterine form
causes abortion.
Non-contagious.
If recognized early, treatment
with high doses of antibiotics
can be effective.
Bloat
Occurs when rumen gas production > rate of gas elimination.
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Pasture/frothy – caused by
consumption of legumous forages
(alfalfa and clover), lush cereal grain
pastures, wet grass, or finely ground
grain.
Treat with anti-foaming agent, mineral
or vegetable oil.
Prevent with good grazing
management and poloxalene.
Limit legume content of pastures to
50% or less.
Consider non-bloating legumes
(birdsfoot trefoil, lespedeza)
Feedlot/free gas – associated with
grain feeding
 Treat by passing stomach tube;
rumenotomy in life threatening
situations.
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Copper-related
Copper has important role in fertility and health.
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Copper toxicity
(more common, esp. sheep)
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Caused by too much copper in diet or
not enough molybdenum (and/or
sulfur).
For sheep, there is a narrow range
between Cu requirements and
toxicity levels.
Goats need and tolerate higher levels
of copper in their diet.
Copper deficiency
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Anemia, ataxia
Swayback
Steely, stringy wool
Selenium-related
Selenium and Vitamin E are interrelated.
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Inadequate Se can affect growth,
reproduction, immunity.
White muscle disease
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Degeneration of the skeletal and cardiac
muscles
Caused by a deficiency of selenium,
vitamin E, or both
Can be a problem wherever selenium
levels in the soil are low
Preventing/treating problems
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Vitamin E/Selenium supplementation in
feed, mineral mix, or via injections
Treat with Vitamin E/Se injections
Be careful when giving Se: it is more
toxic than other trace minerals.
Reproductive Problems
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Abortion
Dystocia
Metabolic: pregnancy toxemia and milk fever
Mastitis
Vaginal and uterine prolapses
Abortion
Termination of pregnancy or birth of weak or deformed lambs or kids that die shortly after birth.
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Bacterial
Chlamydia
Enzootic Abortion, EAE
Vibriosis
Vibrio campylobacter
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Leptospirosis
Salmonella
Viral
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Cache Valley Virus
(mosquito vector)
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Protozoa
Toxoplasmosis
caused by protozoa that causes
coccidiosis in cats
The organisms that cause abortion in ewes/does can cause abortion in women.
Dealing with an abortion storm
Over 5% of herd/flock – seek veterinary assistance
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Prevent spread of
infectious agents.
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Strict sanitation.
Disposal of infective
material.
Isolation of aborting
females.
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Submit proper samples
to a diagnostic lab.
 Blood sampling.
 Immediate vaccination.
 Use of antibiotics.
The organisms that cause abortion in ewes/does can cause abortion in women.
Preventing abortion storms
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Maintain a closed
flock/herd.
Vaccination
Low level feeding of
antibiotics.
Prevent contamination of
feed and water.
Control cat population.
Avoid stressful,
overcrowded, and/or
unsanitary conditions.
Feed Rumensin® or
Deccox®.
The organisms that cause abortion in ewes/does can cause abortion in women.
Dystocia (difficult births)
New Zealand study showed that dystocia accounted for 50% of newborn lamb deaths.
Abortion – dead or
dewormed babies
 Abnormal presentation
of fetus(es)
 Unusually large fetus
 Small pelvic area
 Fat mama
 Vaginal prolapse
 Ring womb – failure of
cervix to dilate
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Dystocia (difficult births)
New Zealand study showed that dystocia accounted for 50% of newborn lamb deaths.
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Know when to assist
 Straining for over an hour
with no progress.
 Know how to assist
 Be clean and gentle.
 Use plenty of lubricant.
 Determine presentation/
problem.
 Have ewe/doe stand or
elevate her hindquarters.
 Use antibiotic on any
ewe/doe you assist.
 Call a veterinarian or
experienced shepherd if you
have worked on a ewe/doe
for more then 30 minutes
with no progress.
Pregnancy toxemia
ketosis, twin lamb disease, lambing paralysis, hypoglycemia
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Low blood sugar caused by an
inadequate intake of energy during
late gestation.
Breakdown of fat produces toxic
ketone bodies.
Mostly commonly affects fat, thin,
old, and/or females carrying
multiple births.
Symptoms: lethargy, sluggishness,
lack of appetite, poor muscle
control, inability to rise.
Treatment is to increase blood
sugar by giving glucose orally,
sub-Q, or IV. C-section in extreme
cases.
Prevent by providing enough
energy in diet and providing
adequate feeder space.
Milk Fever
hypocalcemia, parturient paresis
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Low blood calcium
Caused by inadequate intake of
calcium during late pregnancy or
inability to mobilize calcium
reserves prior to or after
parturition.
Similar symptoms as pregnancy
toxemia.
Can occur before or after
parturition.
Treat with commercial calcium
solutions sub-Q or IV.
Prevent by providing proper
amount of calcium in diet.
Don’t under or overfeed calcium.
Save alfalfa hay for lactation.
Feed mixed hay in late gestation.
Prolapses
More common in sheep than goats.
 Three kinds
 Vaginal
Vaginal
tends to repeat
genetic component
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Uterine
Rectal
not genetic
**life-threatening
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Rectal
(not usually reproductive)
Risk factors: sex, diet,
genetics, health, and length
of tail dock.
Uterine
http://www.sheepandgoat.com/articles/rectalprolapse.html
Prolapses have many predisposing factors/causes.
Mastitis
A major reason for culling ewes (46%)
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Inflammation of the udder
Usually caused by bacteria
Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus
sp., Pasteurella sp., and coliforms,
such as E. coli.
Acute, chronic, or sub-clinical.
Both halves - could be OPP.
Treat with antibiotics
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Systemic
Intramammary
Prevention
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Good sanitation
Proper management at weaning.
Dry cow treatment
Later weaning
Cull females with “lumpy” udders.
Diseases affecting the skin
Soremouth
 Ringworm
 External parasites
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Soremouth
contagious ecthyma, contagious pustular dermatitis, scabby mouth, orf
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Most common skin disease
of sheep and goats.
Caused by a virus from the
pox family.
Causes lesions on mouth,
lips, nostrils (teats, scrotum).
Problematic during lambing/
kidding season and if you
show/exhibit.
Normally runs its course in 1
to 4 weeks.
Very contagious, including to
people (orf).
There is a live vaccine for it.
(don’t vaccinate if you’ve
never had it).
Ringworm
club lamb fungus, lumpy wool, wool rot
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Fungal disease
 Usually occurs in
show lambs.
 Results in hair loss,
scabs, lesions, and
pustules.
 Contagious, to
humans as well.
 Treat with fungicides.
External parasites
Endoparasites
Keds (sheep tick)
 Ticks
 Lice
 Mites
 Blowflies/maggots
 Nasal bots
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Keds, ticks, lice, (mange) mites
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Treat with insecticides –
dip, spray, or pour- on.
Some anthelmintics are
effective against biting
parasites (e.g. ivermectin)
Clean, dry environment
Flystrike
Myiasis
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Caused by parasitic
dipterous fly larvae
feeding on the host’s
necrotic or living tissue.
Occurs when flies lay
eggs in moist wool or
open wound or break in
the skin.
Can cause death.
Prevent by proper
docking, mulesling, and
insecticide treatments.
Treat with insecticide
applications.
Nasal Bots
Head bot, sheep bot, Oestrus ovis
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Occurs when female fly lays
batches of newly hatched
larvae in sheep or goat’s
nostrils.
6-month life cycle. May be 2
generations per year.
Symptoms: sneezing,
coughing, jerky movements
of head.
Can cause bacterial
infections and reduce
performance.
Treat with ivermectin sheep
drench.
A few other interesting health issues
Hypothermia and Starvation
 Tetanus
 Pinkeye
 Entropion
 Spider lamb disease
 Epididymitis
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Hypothermia and Starvation
most common causes of lamb and kid mortality
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Starvation - #1 cause of death
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Mild hypothermia (99-101º F)
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Make sure dam has milk and
lets lambs/kids nurse
Make sure lambs/kids
consume adequate
colostrum (check bellies).
A well-fed lamb/kid stretches
when it rises.
Dry and warm up lamb/kid
Tube feed colostrum, if
necessary
Severe hypothermia (<99º F)
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Intra peritoneal injection of
20% dextrose
Slowly warm up lamb/kid
Feed colostrum by stomach
tube
Tetanus
lock jaw
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Clostridial disease, in soil on most
farms
 Usually related to docking and
castrating, especially by elastrator
bands
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Oxygen-starved tissues are ideal for
tetanus organism
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Any puncture wound can harbor the
tetanus organism.
 Symptoms: stiffness caused by
muscle contractions.
 Treatable in early stages with antitoxin.
 Prevent with vaccination
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Vaccinate ewe/doe with tetanus toxoid
prior to parturition OR
Vaccinate lamb/kid with tetanus
antitoxin at time of docking, castrating,
disbudding to provide immediate
temporary immunity.
Pink eye
keratoconjunctivitis
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Most common causes are mycoplasma and chlamydia.
 Different agent than affects cattle
 Highly contagious
 Usually runs its course in ~ 3 weeks
 Treat with topical and systemic antibiotics
Entropion
Inverted eyelid
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Lower eyelid is inverted, causing the
eyelashes of the lower lid to brush
against the eye
Causes irritation and tearing
Treat with antibiotics or staples,
sutures, or clips
Heritable trait – don’t use rams or
bucks with this trait.
Infovets.com
Spider lamb disease
ovine hereditary chondrodysplasia
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Genetic defect causing
skeletal deformities.
Inherited as a genetic
recessive disorder
SS - normal sheep
Ss - normal sheep (but carrier)
ss - spider lamb
DNA Testing
White pedigree – ancestors have
not produced spider lambs
Gray pedigree – ancestors have
produced spider lambs
Epididymitis
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testicle
testicle
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Epididymis
Venereal disease of
rams/bucks caused by
Brucella ovis.
Contagious
male to female, male to male
Inflammation of the tip of the
epididymis.
Causes varying degrees of
damage – infertility.
Only half of rams respond to
antibiotic treatment.
Damage is permanent.
Prevention – buy diseasefree or virgin males, test and
cull, vaccinate.
Epididymis functions in the transport and storage of sperm cells produced in the testicles.
Wasting Diseases
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Viral (retroviruses)
Similar to aids virus
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Bacterial
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Ovine progressive pneumonia (OPP)
Caprine Arthritic Encephalitis (CAE)
Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA)
Johne’s Disease
Prion
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Scrapie
Caseous lymphadenitis (CL or CLA)
cheesy gland, boils, abscesses
Caused by bacteria Corynbacterium pseudotuberculosis
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Internal (sheep) and external (goats)
abscesses.
Pus in external abscess is initially
pale green; becomes thicker in
sheep.
Usually affects animals > 6 months
of age.
Animals with internal form show
weight loss and poor productivity,
and may exhibit mastitis, respiratory
distress, chronic cough or
neurological deficits.
Internal form is a leading cause of
sheep carcass condemnation.
Treatment: lance abscess and flush
with iodine solution.
Zoonotic potential - ???
Caseous lymphadenitis (CL or CLA)
cheesy gland, abscesses, boils
Caused by bacteria Corynbacterium pseudotuberculosis
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Controlling/eradicating CLA
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Separate or cull affected
animals
Practice good hygiene and
management.
Purchase from CLA-free
flocks/herds.
Vaccination can reduce
severity of disease.
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Do not vaccinate naïve
flocks/herds
Caprine Arthritic Encephalitis (CAE)
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Retroviral infection of
goats which may lead to
chronic disease of joints
and encephalitis (rare) in
young kids.
 Similar to OPP in sheep.
 CAE virus is primarily
transmitted to kids
through colostrum.
 Contact transmission is
rare, but possible.
 No treatment or vaccine
is available.
Caprine Arthritic Encephalitis (CAE)
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Control/eradicate CAE
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A positive blood test
means the goat has
antibodies for the virus.
Cull seropositive goats
from the herd.
Separate kids from
dams and feeding kids
artificially.
Buy from CAE-free
herds.
Ovine Progressive Pneumonia (OPP)
Maedi-Visna
26% of the sheep in the United States are infected with the OPP virus
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A slowly progressive viral
disease caused by an ovine
lentivirus.
Similar to CAE.
Sheep are infected for life.
Some breeds more susceptible
Primary means of transmission
is through the ingestion of
infected colostrum and milk.
Contact transmission possible.
Symptoms
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Loss of body condition, “thin ewe
syndrome”
Increased breathing at rest
Fever, cough, lethargy, nasal discharge
Hard bag
No treatment or vaccine
Ovine Progressive Pneumonia (OPP)
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Control/eradicate OPP
 Test and remove all
seropositive sheep every
six months until three
consecutive negative tests
are achieved.
 Presence of antibodies is
not indicative of immunity
 Most infected sheep never
show symptoms, but serve
as carriers of the disease.
 Separate lambs from
infected ewes and rear
them artificially.
 Buy OPP-free breeding
stock.
Johne’s Disease
paratuberculosis
Caused by bacteria Mycobacterium paratuberculosis
Victoria, Australia

Cattle, sheep, and goat
strains
 Environmental
transmission
 Symptoms
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Emaciation, wasting
disease
Profuse, watery diarrhea
seen in cattle is not
common in sheep/goats
Small intestine
Ohio
www.johnes.org
State University
Johne’s Disease
Small intestine
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Difficult to diagnose.
 No treatment.
 Difficult to control.
 Prevention
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Ohio State Univ.
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Maintain a closed flock/herd
Be careful with cow colostrum
Testing less reliable in
sheep/goats
Vaccination may lower the
number of clinical cases
 Theoretical link to Crohn’s
disease in people.
Scrapie
Goal is to eradicate by 2010 and for U.S. to be declared scrapie-free by 2017
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Fatal disease affecting the central
nervous system of sheep and
goats.
 Neurological symptoms:
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Transmitted via infected placenta.
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Intense itching
Behavior changes
Lack of coordination
Gait abnormalities
Tremors
Males not considered to be a risk.
Can be spread by infected feed.
Contact/environmental
transmission ???
Clinical signs appear 2 to 5 years
(or later) after the animal has been
infected.
Scrapie
Goal is to eradicate by 2010 and for U.S. to be declared scrapie-free by 2017
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In sheep, susceptibility is
determined by genetics.
Resistant genotypes have not
been found it goats – yet.
Low incidence in USA
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1/500 sheep.
90% in Suffolk/black face sheep.
15 goat cases since 1990
Only Australia and New
Zealand are considered
scrapie-free.
Scrapie is a transmissible
spongiform encephalopathy
(TSE).
Transmissible Spongiform
Encephalopathies (TSE)
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Many TSE’s
Theoretical link between
scrapie and mad cow disease
and between mad cow and
new variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob
Disease in people.
Always fatal.
Infective agent believed to be
a prion, abnormal protein.
Long incubation periods.
Diagnosis post-mortem (brain
tissue).
Massive regulations
Massive research
Many theories
Scrapie Eradication
Goal is to eradicate scrapie by 2010 and or U.S. to be declared scrapie-free by 2017.
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Increased slaughter
surveillance.
 Mandatory identification
of sheep and goats in
commerce.*
 Voluntary scrapie flock
certification program.
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Recommended for flocks/herds
selling breeding stock.
Third eyelid test
Rectal biopsy
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Genotyping for scrapie
susceptibility
*Regulations vary by state.
Questions, comments