Caprine arthritis encephalitis
The caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE) is a hinge with ( arthritis ) and occasionally with brain inflammation ( encephalitis associated) viral disease of goat ( Capra ). It occurs frequently in Europe and occurs locally ( enzootically ).
Pathogen
The causative agent of CAE is the caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE) virus from the group of retroviruses , more precisely the lentiviruses .
The virus is usually transmitted from the mother to the lamb via the colostrum . Infections caused by viruses excreted in the faeces in adult animals are rare. The virus attacks the white blood cells . The infected animal produces antibodies , but these are not able to neutralize the virus.
Clinical picture
More than 70% of the infected animals remain symptom-free, i.e. show no symptoms.
In lambs, central nervous symptoms of encephalitis dominate , according to the VETAMIN D scheme as a neurological inflammation-related disease. At the age of 2 to 4 months, hindquarters weakness, symptoms of paralysis and movement disorders occur. Most of the time, sick lambs lose weight. In adult animals, inflammation of the joints is in the foreground, with the tarsus joint being particularly affected.
Diagnosis and control
Treatment is not possible, which is why eliminating virus carriers is the only way to control it. Since many infections are silent, this can only be done by a serological test using ELISA , in which animals with antibodies are to be removed from the herd because they shed the virus even if there are no signs of disease. Lambs can be protected by rearing them with pasteurized milk.
In Switzerland, the CAE is a reportable animal disease of control class 2 ( disease to be eradicated ).
