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BLUETONGUE IN GOATS An orbivirus spread by biting gnats (midges) of the genus Culicoides, Bluetongue usually causes mild or even no symptoms in goats. This disease is usually much more severe in sheep, cattle, and other ruminants. Symptoms may include mouth and lip sores, facial swelling, eye/nose discharge, and even lameness. Mucous membranes in the mouth become dark pink as the disease progresses and the tongue may turn bluish in color. Lame ness may occur if the coronary bands of the hooves and tissues of the feet are so badly infected and they may slough off their hooves. Diarrhea is sometimes present. Bluetongue causes abortions , still births, and (if born alive), weak kids. Transmission of the virus across the placenta can occur. It can also be transmitted sexually from goat to goat. Supportive care is essential, because in the case of newborns, they may be too weak to nurse or unable to suckle their dams' teats because of the mouth/lip sores. Producers will have to feed and care for them until the virus passes and the sores have healed. There is no specific cure for Bluetongue in goats. There are multiple serotypes of vaccines for Bluetongue in sheep and cattle, but no vaccines to prevent Bluetongue in goats. Bluetongue is _not_zoonotic, i.e. it does not transmit to humans. The meat, if well cooked, is safe to eat. Bluetongue can be mistaken for Soremouth, but Soremouth is contagious to humans. It also mimics Hoof & Mouth Disease (FMD) which is a very serious disease that must be reported to authorities for handling and containment. Since the organism transmitting the disease is a gnat, Bluetongue spreads primarily in late summer and fall when gnats are active. Cattle, wild ruminants, and even white-tailed deer are carriers. Supportive treatment involves antibiotics to prevent or cure secondary infections as well as minimizing stress so the goats can eat, drink, rest, and heal. Kids have to be supplemented with colostrum and milk, as they usually cannot nurse. Prevention requires keeping breeding and loafing areas free of biting gnats. Suzanne W. Gasparotto, Onion Creek Ranch, Texas 1.1.26 |
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Important! Please Read This Notice! All information provided in these articles is based either on personal experience or information provided by others whose treatments and practices have been discussed fully with a vet for accuracy and effectiveness before passing them on to readers. In all cases, it is your responsibility to obtain veterinary services and advice before using any of the information provided in these articles. Suzanne Gasparotto is not a veterinarian.Neither tennesseemeatgoats.com nor any of the contributors to this website will be held responsible for the use of any information contained herein. |
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The author, Suzanne Gasparotto, hereby grants to local goat publications and club newsletters, permission to reprint articles published on the Onion Creek Ranch website under these conditions: THE ARTICLE MUST BE REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY AND THE AUTHOR'S NAME, ADDRESS, AND CONTACT INFORMATION MUST BE INCLUDED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE REPRINT. We would appreciate notification from any clubs or publications when the articles are used. (A copy of the newsletter or publication would also be a welcome addition to our growing library of goat related information!) |
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All information and photos copyright © Onion Creek Ranch and may not be used without express written permission of Onion Creek Ranch. TENNESSEE MEAT GOAT ™ and TEXMASTER™ are Trademarks of Onion Creek Ranch . All artwork and graphics © DTP, Ink and Onion Creek Ranch. |
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