Cerebrospinal nematodiasis in a goat herd
Kopcha, M.; Marteniuk, J.V.; Sills, R.; Steficek, B.; Schillhorn van Veen, T.W.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 194(10): 1439-1442
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 2722638 Document Number: 343463
During the fall of 1985, 4 Angora goats, from a herd of 40, were examined on a farm in central Michigan. Affected goats were alert but had neurologic deficits consistent with upper and lower moto neuron involvement. Eosinophilic pleocytosis in a cerebrospinal fluid sample from one goat was consistent with cerebrospinal nematodiasis. Parelaphostrongylosis was confirmed in 3 goats by identification of Parelaphostrongylosis tenuis larvae in spinal cord sections. Ivermectin may have influenced the herd's susceptibility to new parasitic infections. Control of parelaphostrongylosis probably is best achieved by removal of susceptible animals from treed swamps coinhabited by white-tailed deer from late summer until after the first killing frost.