Kim's Soap BoxThis page is dedicated to passing on current information that relate to health/skin issues and is a page for Kim to ramble on about stuff. Please send any information you find. As long as it is from a credible source it will be posted. Source: internet, Dr. Kennedy who specializes in goats, a ton of internet sites, Lori Moothart who helped research online articles. Good site to visit are: www.fiascofarms.com www.vetmed.wsu/edi/depts_waddl/ Understanding CAE in goats CAE does not affect humans (repeat – does NOT affect humans!). The milk can be consumed and used for any purpose and will not harm humans or any animals except sheep or other goats. CAE (CAPRINE ARTHRITIS ENCEPHALITIS) is a virus that hides in the brain and spinal fluid. All living creatures have what is called a blood brain barrier. This barrier protects the brain and does not let any foreign bodies inside the brain or we would continually have a brain infection. Due to this blood brain barrier there has been no vaccine invented that will work because it cannot pass the barrier. Like HIV in humans. CAE can have two different signs – a neurological disease in the spinal cord and brain of young kids and a joint infection of older goats resulting in arthritis. All breeds of goats can be affected from the nervous form, as can both sexes; most individuals first show signs between one and four months of age. It will show as progressive weakness of the hind limbs leading to eventual paralysis. Early signs may look like lameness or weakness in one or both rear legs. Knuckling over of the feet and difficulty in rising may follow until such time that the animal is unable to rise at all. The course of the disease is from several days to several weeks. Despite the slow paralysis, the kid will usually remain bright and alert and continue to eat and drink. If the correct diagnosis is made, the animal is often euthanized since there is no known treatment for the condition. In older goats, a variation of the nervous form of CAE include circling, head tilt and facial nerve paralysis. The arthritic signs of the disease are usually first recognized as a gradually developing lameness accompanied or followed by swelling of the joints. Swelling is most often noted in the front knees and can also be seen in the hock and stifle joints. As the condition progresses, joint pain and stiffness become more apparent. The animal may spend a good deal of time lying down, will begin to lose weight and develop a rough hair coat. In severely affected joints, the range of motion may become limited and goats are forced to walk around on their knees. An interesting fact is that an animal with CAE in their brain and spinal fluid will test negative for CAE. When an animal is under stress, sickness or aging or for no reason, CAE will cross the barrier and the goat will test positive. This answers the question about a herd being clean and then testing positive. The blood test is considered inaccurate by some because of the blood brain barrier, an animal can have CAE but test negative. Another interesting fact is that only 1% of animals that test positive will show signs of the disease. Because CAE hides in the brain and spinal fluid and blood work will not show CAE behind the blood brain barrier. One could purchase a CAE free doe and have it turn up positive the next year. This being said I wonder if there are any CAE free herds???? CAE is passed through the white blood cells, hence milk and blood are the major source of spreading the disease. The largest being passed from mother to kid through milk. You can pull kids and pasteurize the milk, and articles I have read say this practice will stop it in a herd. They are not sure if it can be transmitted in the breeding but at this time the thought is that there is a low chance of transferring CAE during breeding or pregnancy. Goats housed together will not transfer CAE to one another by just living together, unlike colds or CL. I was told by a WADDL employee to separate animals with bad teeth or bleeding gums. The thought was that if the animal was CAE positive that the drinking water could be infected by blood. If an animal is positive for CAE and has no outward and is in sound health they can happily live in the herd without contaminating any of the animals. I did see CAE active in a goat and her knees were large and full of fluid. The doe was happy, not in pain, and the veterinarian said that she could live like that the rest of her life or she could get worse. Unfortunately she was accidently bred by an over excited buck who jumped the fence. My friend is planning to pull the babies and then test them to see if it is transferred during delivery or pregnancy. A thought I had: If a CAE doe never develops symptoms maybe she is passing on resistance to her kids? Human children now born with HIV are having more of a resistance to the disease than becoming infected CAE does not affect humans (repeat – does NOT affect humans!). The milk can be consumed and used for any purpose and will not harm humans or any animals except sheep or other goats. Now, armed with this information you can make informed decisions.. If you choose to test then my suggestion test before breeding and before delivery. It has been mentioned that by never letting a doe lick or nurse their kids then you can stop it CAE in your herd. Another option is to look at your animals and if you see healthy, productive, happy animals then that is what you have and if disease shows up then treat each animal accordingly. Until there is a vaccine I am just not sure testing is going to solve the blood brain barrier issue and CAE might be a thorn we all have to live with. |
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