Frequently Asked Questions
ABOUT: Caseous lymphadenitis (CL) is a chronic, contagious disease caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. The disease is characterized by abscess formation in or near major peripheral lymph nodes (external form) or within internal organs and lymph nodes (internal form). Although both the external and internal forms of CL occur in sheep and goats, the external form is more common in goats, and the internal form is more common in sheep.
SYMPTOMS: Symptoms of CL are abscess formation in or near major peripheral lymph nodes (external form) or within internal organs and lymph nodes (internal form).
GETTING TESTED: Sheep and goats blood can be tested for this disease. At least 3 ml of whole blood should be collected in a “red top” vacuum tube. Samples should be refrigerated after collection and be shipped with an ice pack and tested within 2 weeks of the collection date.
ABOUT: Maedi-visna virus (MVV) infection of sheep is characterized by slowly progressive arthritis, pneumonia, mastitis, and encephalomyelitis. MVV infection is found all over the world. This classification also includes Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus (CAEV), which manifests itself in adult goats mainly in the form of sever arthritis of the Carpal Joint (“Big Knee”).
SYMPTOMS: Animals with CAEV become emaciated despite an intact appetite and show poor milk yield.
PREVENTION: An effective vaccination does not exist. For this reason, eradication programs are based on colostrum deprivation, separation,
and serological detection of infected animals.
GETTING TESTED: Sheep and goat’s blood can be tested for this disease. At least 3 mL of whole blood should be collected in a “red top” vacuum tube. Samples should be refrigerated after collection and be shipped with an ice pack and tested within 2 weeks of the collection date.
The Ruminant Pregnancy Test is an enzyme-linked immunoassay for the detection of early pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (early PAGs) in serum or EDTA plasma of cattle, serum of sheep and goat and EDTA plasma of water buffalo and bison as a marker for pregnancy.
The Ruminant Pregnancy Test can be used in serum and EDTA plasma as early as 28 days after breeding in cows with no interference from a previous pregnancy as early as 60 days after calving. It can also be used from 28 days post breeding in goats, from 30 days post breeding in buffaloes, and from 35 days post breeding in sheep.
ABOUT: Bovine Leukosis Virus (BLV) is a retrovirus that infects dairy and beef cattle’s lymphoid tissue, causing malignant lymphoma and lymphosarcoma. It is transmitted primarily through direct contact with infected blood, saliva, semen, and milk.
SYMPTOMS: Symptoms may include tumors in lymphoid tissues, enlarged lymph nodes, weight loss, decreased milk production, fever, loss of appetite, rear limb weakness or paralysis, protruding eyeballs, gastrointestinal obstructions, and increased blood lymphocyte counts.
PREVENTION: Prevention can include eliminating blood transmission from cow to cow. Also feeding calves pasteurized colostrum and milk and using BLV negative dams for embryo transfer.
GETTING TESTED: Cattle can be tested for this virus. At least 3 ml of whole blood should be collected in a “red top” vacuum tube. Samples should be refrigerated after collection and be shipped with an ice pack and tested within 2 weeks of the collection date.
ABOUT: Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) suppresses a cow’s immune system, making the animal susceptible to a host of other infections. That’s why BVDV is one of the world’s most costly bovine diseases, with losses of $15-$88 per head from reduced herd productivity, health, and reproductive efficiency.
SYMPTOMS: Signs of acute infection include fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, ocular discharge, nasal discharge oral lesions, diarrhea and decreasing milk production.
PREVENTION: Stopping BVDV requires detecting and removing the infection source: persistently infected (PI) cattle that continually expose other animals to disease. Since PI cattle often look healthy, a sensitive, specific diagnostic test is essential.
GETTING TESTED: At least 3 ml of whole blood should be collected in a “red top” vacuum tube. Samples should be refrigerated after collection and be shipped with an ice pack. Samples should be tested no later than 2 weeks from the collection date.
ABOUT: Johne’s disease (pronounced “yo-knees”) is a contagious, chronic and usually fatal infection that affects primarily the small intestine of the ruminants. Large (cattle) and small (sheep and goats) ruminants are susceptible to Johne’s disease. Johne’s disease is caused by Mycobacterium Avium Subspecies Paratuberculosis.
SYMPTOMS: Signs are rarely evident until two or more years after the initial infection, which usually occurs shortly after birth. The signs are long-lasting diarrhea and weight loss despite a good appetite. In goats, diarrhea is less common. Because the symptoms are common with other diseases, the only way to confirm Johne’s disease is through lab testing.
PREVENTION: Since there is no cure for Johne’s disease, control of the infection is crucial. Control of Johne’s disease takes time and a strong commitment to management practices focused on keeping young animals away from contaminated manure, milk, feed, and water.
GETTING TESTED: Cattle, sheep, and goats blood can be tested for this disease. At least 3mL of whole blood should be collected in a “red top” vacuum tube. Samples should be refrigerated after collection and be shipped with an ice pack and tested within 2 weeks of the collection date.