Cerebrospinal nematodiasis in a goat herd

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Neurology
• Parasitology
• Animal Science

Background:

• Parelaphostrongylus tenuis is a parasite of white-tailed deer that can cause neurologic disease in aberrant hosts.
• Goats are susceptible to P. tenuis, leading to parelaphostrongylosis, a condition characterized by neurological deficits.

Observation:

• Four Angora goats in Michigan exhibited neurologic deficits suggestive of upper and lower motor neuron involvement.
• Cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed eosinophilic pleocytosis, indicating an inflammatory response consistent with cerebrospinal nematodiasis.

Findings:

• Parelaphostrongylosis was confirmed in three goats through the identification of Parelaphostrongylus tenuis larvae in spinal cord sections.
• The use of ivermectin in the herd may have potentially influenced susceptibility to new parasitic infections.

Implications:

• Findings suggest that managing goat exposure to white-tailed deer habitats, particularly during parasite transmission seasons, is crucial for controlling parelaphostrongylosis.
• Removal of susceptible animals from areas shared with deer, especially from late summer until the first frost, is recommended for disease prevention.