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Scrapie in goats in Cyprus.
1Histopathology Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Services, Nicosia, Cyprus.
New Zealand Veterinary Journal
|December 1, 1989
Summary
Scrapie, a prion disease, has been diagnosed in dairy goats in Cyprus, showing clinical signs and neurological lesions similar to affected sheep. This marks the first recorded instance of scrapie affecting goats in the region.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Neurology
- Prion Diseases
- Animal Epidemiology
Background:
- Ovine scrapie, a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy, was first identified in Cyprus in 1985.
- The study investigates the potential for scrapie transmission from sheep to goats within mixed-species flocks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if dairy goats in Cyprus could contract scrapie from affected sheep.
- To characterize the clinical and pathological presentation of scrapie in goats.
Main Methods:
- Histological examination of neurological tissues from fifteen goats.
- Clinical observation of goats in mixed flocks with scrapie-affected sheep.
Main Results:
- Four goats exhibited clinical signs consistent with scrapie.
- Histopathology confirmed neurological lesions characteristic of scrapie in seven goats.
- Goat lesions were comparable to sheep scrapie, with some cases showing more severe neuronal degeneration and vacuolation.
Conclusions:
- Dairy goats in Cyprus can be affected by ovine scrapie.
- Scrapie presents with similar neurological lesions in goats and sheep, though severity may vary.
- Mixed-species farming poses a risk for scrapie transmission between sheep and goats.