ENTEROTOXEMIA IN GOATS

Enterotoxaemia of sheep and goats occurs worldwide, but the condition in goats is poorly understood. The disease in goats is mostly caused b y Clostridium perfringens type D, although the role of the toxins of t his microorganism in the pathogenesis of the disease is not fully unde rstood. The disease occurs in three forms, peracute, acute and chronic , the cardinal clinical sign of the acute and chronic forms being diar rhoea. The main biochemical alterations are hyperglycaemia and glycosu ria, while at necropsy the disease is often characterized by haemorrha gic colitis. The typical histological changes observed in the brain of sheep with enterotoxaemia are not considered to be a common feature o f enterotoxaemia in goats. Although the pathogenesis of caprine entero toxaemia has not yet been properly defined, it is usually accepted tha t the presence of C. perfringens type D in the small bowel, together w ith a sudden change to a diet rich in carbohydrates, is the main predi sposing factor for the disease. Vaccination seems to be poorly effecti ve in preventing caprine enterotoxaemia, which might be due to the fac t that the enteric form of the disease is partially independent of cir culating C. perfringens toxin. More studies are needed on caprine ente rotoxaemia, especially of its pathogenesis and immunity, in order to d evelop more efficient control measures for this disease.