Hello all. I had been planning to add another Nigerian Dwarf doeling to my group of goats this Spring. Just at kidding time my local breeder had CE run through her group and nearly all of her goats were infected including the doeling I was hoping to purchase. The sores have long cleared now. The literature I've read indicates that once infected, the animals develop a strong immunity for about a year but I am unclear as to the likelihood of reoccurrence after that year.

Anyone here have experience with CE? I like this little doeling but am concerned about introducing this disease to my other goats. Voice of experience out there? Help!

-- B. Lackie - Zone3 (cwrench@hotmail.com), March 16, 2002

Answers

Hi, we came home from a show with Contagious Ecthyma, actually the only distinguishing factor between CE, sore mouth and ORF is the area you and the sores are in. Both my best doe and buck got dinner plate sized lesions on their rumps and flanks, and though it was the ugliest thing in the world, both went on to heal, not even a scar or change of hair or skin texture where the lesion healed. Like sore mouth, well at least the sore mouth we have had, once you have it only new stock coming in will pick it up from the scabs in the soil. And that would have to be fairly recent contact. With good colostrum, and I would use colostrum from this doe on all babies born after her the next year, you shouldn't see a reoccurance. Like Soremouth, Orf and CE and ringworm (which we are glad we don't get) scabies, lice, mites, nose bots etc, are just things goats get, has nothing to do with filth, bad management etc. The only reason you know that this doe had CE is because this very reputable and honest herdsman told you, and very honestly if you were purchasing from me, you would have to point blank ask me to list all the stuff we have picked up over 16 years. It all affects in reality the purchase of your doe, not in the health of this animal but in the health of your stock who doesn't have immunity to this.

This is where quaranteen comes in to play. Buy the doe and perhaps a friend and bring her to your farm, keep her in quaranteen until you are sure she is symptomatic free of everything, including the worm burden she will carry dormant to your place, that will activate from the stress of the move, and worms you may not want on your place where your other stock is. We also take this quaranteen time to blood test for CL and CAE. Revaccinate, trim feet, and body shave if the weather is cooperating. It is always a risk buying stock, and I hate to say this as great a risk from buying from old time breeders and new folks, since our does high immunity which comes from very old does colostrum, could reak havoc on a herd with young stock. Quaranteen! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 16, 2002.

Once you bring in soremouth you will have it in your herd for good. Each year your kid crop will have to be vaccinated and any new stock you bring in will need to be vaccinated, also. Decide if you want the hassle of adding another disease to your herd. We've kept it out of our herd for over 22 yrs. It can be done.

-- Scotsirish (notreal@anywhere.net), March 16, 2002.