Common diseases of domestic goats

Common diseases of domestic goats: overview

The domestic goat is one of Earth's most populous livestock animals, contributing to agriculture via its milk, meat, and fiber; and as an animal or companion. Various diseases affect goats & their productivity, health, and welfare factors. Knowledge about these diseases and their prevention and treatment plays an important part in successful goat management. Therefore, this scientific paper aims to guide goat flocks on the most common and relevant diseases affecting domestic goats, including infectious conditions and other classes mostly parasitic infections but also deficiencies, metabolic disorders, and prevention.

Infectious Diseases

GOATS INFECTIOUS DISEASE (BACTERIA, VIRUS, FUNGI, OR OTHERWISE) These diseases can be very contagious in herds requiring early diagnosis and management.

Bacterial Diseases

1:Caseous Lymphadenitis (CL)

Causative agent: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis

Clinical signs: Abscesses in lymph nodes, weight loss, decrease in milk production.

Transmission: Through direct contact with pus from ruptured abscesses or contaminated items.

Prevention and control: vaccination, isolation of sick animals, and abscess surgical removal.

2:Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE)

PROBABLE CAUSAL AGENT: CAE virus (retrovirus)

Clinical signs: arthritis, encephalitis, pneumonia, and mastitis.

Zoonotic: Contact with colostrum, milk of infected do

Prevention & Treatment: Identification and culling of infected animals, feeding pasteurized colostrum, no treatment.

3:Johne's Disease (Paratuberculosis)

Cause: Mycobacterium spp paratuberculosis

Symptoms: severe diarrhea, weight loss, and decreased milk output.

Route of transmission: ingestion from contaminated feed or water, direct contact

Prevention and treatment: Good hygiene, isolation, and euthanization of infected animals; no effective treatment

4:Mastitis

PATHOGENS: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Escherichia coli.

Symptoms: Udder swelling & heat, Painful udder Abnormal milk yield

Transmission: Unsanitary milking, contaminated litter

Prevention and Treatment: Mitigating milking practices, maintaining udder hygiene retention, antibiotic therapy

Viral Diseases

1 :Peste des petits ruminants

Causative agent: PPR virus (Morbillivirus)

Manifestations: Fever of high degree, Central and oral lesions, excessive colicky movements, clearing breaths.

Route of Transmission: Aerosol/Direct contact with infected animals

Prevention and Treatment: Vaccination, isolating new animals coming in for 30 days, and supportive care.

2:Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)

Infectious Agent: Foot-and-Mouth Disease virus.

Clinical Signs: Pyrexia, vesicles in the oral cavity and on paws, lameness.

Mode of transmission: In affected hens, direct contact with infectious feces, contaminated feedstuffs, farm equipment, and clothing

Prevention and treatment: Vaccination, strict biosecurity practices; no specific treatment

Fungal Diseases

1:Ringworm (Dermatophytosis)

Causative Agents: Different fungi (e.g., Trichophyton, Microsporum spp.)

Symptoms: Round, scabby, and itchy spots on the skin.

Mode of transmission: Contact with infected animals, and contaminated equipment.

Prevent and Treat: Isolate sick animals, antifungal creams, and sanitation.

Parasitic Infections

Parasitic infections are an important problem in goats because they influence growth, productivity, and general health conditions.

Internal Parasites

1:Gastrointestinal Nematodes

Causative Agents: Different nematodes (Haemonchus contortus, Ostertagia, Trichostrongylus)

Signs: Diarrhea, weight loss, with or without anemia, and/or bottle jaw (edema).

Prevention and Treatment: Regular fecal egg count testing, targeted deworming protocols, pasture management, and rotation.

2:Liver Fluke (Fascioliasis)

Causative Agent : Fasciola hepatica

Disease Features: Anemia, Weight Loss, Decreased Milk Production And Liver Damage

Transmission: ingestion of infected water or infected forage

Prevention and Therapy: No pasturing on wet pastures, flukicides

External Parasites

1:Mange (Mites)

Etiological agents: Different mites such as Sarcoptes, Psoroptes, and Chorioptes species.

Symptoms: Severe pruritus, alopecias, and cutaneous lesions.

Transmission: contact with sick animals, contaminated litter

Management: Isolate infected animals; topical/injectable acaricides, hygiene.

2:Lice Infestations

Aetiological agent: biting lice, sucking lice

Manifestations: Pruritus, alopecia, anemia (in extreme cases).

Transmission: Contact, Contaminated instruments

Prevention and Treatment: Regular grooming, use of insecticidal treatments, and maintaining hygiene.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Healthy goats are productive goats, and that means proper nutrition! Different health problems may be caused due to nutritional deficiency.

1:Vitamin A Deficiency

Signs: Stunted growth, infertility, night blindness, dry skin.

Prevention and Treatment: Feed a good quality diet that contains sufficient green forage or a supplement.

2:Lack of Vitamin E and Selenium

Clinical: White muscle disease, stunted growth, reproductive problems

Prophylaxis and Therapy: Selenium-adding vitamin E supplements +DBT

3:Imbalance between calcium and phosphorus

Characteristics: Rickets in young goats, osteomalacia in adults, poor growth and reproductive issues

Prevention and Treatment: Maintaining a normal calcium/phosphorus ratio in the diet, and supplying mineral supplements.

4: Copper Deficiency

Symptoms: The hair loses its shine, anemia, reproductive failure, and reduced immunity.

Prevention and Treatment: copper supplements, balanced dietary intake but beware of copper toxicity.

Metabolic Disorders

Net protein and energy supply are among the most common root causes of metabolic disorders in goats, making them insidious clinical conditions related to poor nutrition or stress factors.

1:Pregnancy Toxemia (Ketosis)

Clinical Features: Anorexia, incoordination, weakness, recumbency/coma

Prevention and Treatment: Ensure that sufficient energy is provided late in terminal gestation; avoid "overfeeding" grain during the last 2 weeks of term; treat with propylene glycol (24-hour long-acting bolus, oral solution) and supportive care.

2:Hypocalcemia (Milk Fever)

Signs: Shaking or tremors of muscles, weakness, lying down or recumbency, death from complications but not until after being treated

Prevention and Treatment: Different levels of calcium supply in the transition period especially provision of adequate level during late gestation, lactation treatment with oral or intravenous calcium

3:Acidosis

Diarrhea, dehydration, depression, untreated can lead to death

Prevention and Treatment Idiopathic: prevent sudden dietary changes, feed sufficient fiber, bicarbonate treatment, supportive care

Preventive Measures

Keeping the goat herds healthy and productive is all about prevention.

Vaccination

Significance: Vaccination prevents infectious diseases and increases herd immunity.

VACCINES: (Clostridial diseases most common, CL, PPR, FMD.) 

Biosecurity

Significance: These biosecurity measures can assist in preventing the introduction and spread of diseases.

Practices: Isolate new animals, sanitize premises, restrict access to visitors, and use separate equipment for different groups of animals.

Regular Health Monitoring

Significance: The timely diagnosis of diseases enables their quick treatment and minimizes transmission within the herd.

Practices: Disease surveillance, add fecal egg counts, body condition scoring, and health examination by a veterinarian

Proper Nutrition

Relevance: A balanced and nutritious diet helps to remain healthy and productive as well as protected from disease,

Practices: High-Quality Forage, Balanced Rations, Mineral Supplementation, Clean Water

Pasture Management

Significance: Pastures need to be well managed to lower the risk of parasitic infections and encourage rapid growth.

Practices: Rotate pastures, graze at ideal stocking rates & heights, keep clean dry bedding & provide shelter.

Conclusion

Knowledge of the diseases and pathogens affecting domestic goats and their management is crucial for goat health and productivity as well as animal welfare. By practicing prevention through proper management, nutrition, and health monitoring, goat owners can decrease disease incidence and maintain a healthy herd. So whether you are running a milk goat farm on a small scale or you are producing it in large numbers, this guide is here to give you information related to the most common diseases of domestic goats and their prevention and treatment. Goats are incredible animals and with the right care, they will provide benefits well beyond your dream goat life.