Transmission of virulent footrot between sheep and goats

Objective To determine the infectivity of ovine and caprine strains of Dich elobacter nodosus for both sheep and goats. Design Pen experiments in which 20 sheep and 19 goats were challenged direc tly with the two strains, and transmission experiments on pasture, using do nors infected by experimental challenge. Results Sheep and goat strains of D nodosus infected both animal species in experimental challenges. Animals so infected transmitted footrot to both s heep and goats on pasture plots. A significantly smaller proportion of goat s than sheep was infected when challenged with either strain. The interval between exposure and development of footrot in goats was longer than in she ep when recipient animals were exposed to infected donors on pasture. The d isease was less invasive in goats than in sheep. Conclusions With the strains of D nodosus used there was no evidence of hos t specificity. Direct transmission of footrot can occur between sheep and g oats in the same environment. There is a need to include goats in ovine foo trot eradication programs and vice versa.