[ Post New Message | Post Reply to this One | Send Private Email to Bernice | Help ]

Response to goat health questioon

from Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com)
The person who replied earlier has pretty much hit the possible problems. The test sounds like it was for CAE, caprine arthritic encyphletis. This is what some breeders call the "AIDS" of the goat world. Now.... I'll really make your head spin with this information: the test, unless sent to the lab at Washington St. will not be accurate. Washington state is the only lab in the United States where the titers and test for CAE are most accurate. its a long statistical story. The test is called the WADDEL. Now, to further complicate the situation a test can come back positive if the doe is pregnant or was recently tested for TB. There is no test available to determine if the positive is a result of the actual virus or from exposure and the goat has an immunity. CAE is a crapshoot with no accurate answers. The symptoms are swollen knees, frequent colds leading to pnemonia and eventually it can deteriorate the brain causing weird behaviors, if they live that long. I would be happy to send you more information on CAE if interested. You can also try going to the National Goat Handbook, its online for goat health issues and for info in CAE too.

Are there any other specific symptoms you have noticed?

Good luck, hope its not CAE.

Bernice

(posted 9673 days ago)

[ Previous | Next ]