Hi all, I've just had a doe test positive for CL, what now? She has no lumps or bumps that I can find on her, I've had her for a few years now and never seen anything suspicious. I had her tested at the prospective buyer's request because I was going to sell her, I suspect now she will be staying. Is there anything I can do other than keeping a watch on her? She has kidded three times before and is bred now. Are those kids all at risk? I still have one of her offspring here, should he be tested as well. Damn, I almost wish I didn't know. Thanks for any advice.
DOE TESTED POSITIVE....NOW WHAT?
- Thread starter cindyg
- Start date
Southern by choice
Herd Master
What were the titers?
I think that is more important than pos/neg.
Generally goats that have high titers but never any outward signs will have internal CL which is not good. If the titers are low and never any lumps probably not a big deal.
How old is the goat?
It is better to know. Internal CL is more of a threat as depending where the abscesses are internally they can pass it. If in the area of the mammories, possibly through milk, if digestive areas then could pass through fecal, if lungs etc, coughing. Much depends on where they are. Having said all of that UCDavis recently did a test on sheep. 3% of sheep that had low titers, @16 I believe, DID have internal CL at time of necropsy.
For terminal meatgoats I don't know that it is a big deal as most go to slaughter before it would ever be an issue. With dairy I think it is a much bigger issue.
I think that is more important than pos/neg.
Generally goats that have high titers but never any outward signs will have internal CL which is not good. If the titers are low and never any lumps probably not a big deal.
How old is the goat?
It is better to know. Internal CL is more of a threat as depending where the abscesses are internally they can pass it. If in the area of the mammories, possibly through milk, if digestive areas then could pass through fecal, if lungs etc, coughing. Much depends on where they are. Having said all of that UCDavis recently did a test on sheep. 3% of sheep that had low titers, @16 I believe, DID have internal CL at time of necropsy.
For terminal meatgoats I don't know that it is a big deal as most go to slaughter before it would ever be an issue. With dairy I think it is a much bigger issue.
Southern by choice
Herd Master
BTW- kids may not be positive. You could seperate the kids and keep them in a different area and test the kids. 6 months is the minimum age but IMO I would wait til 8-10 months.
- Thread starter
- #4
Thanks Southern, I will have to ask the vet about the "titer" level? She didn't mention anything at all about that. The doe is about 6, her buck that I still have is 8 months old, so I will have him tested as well. These are registered Nigerian Dwarf goats. Two other does from my herd tested negative.
Southern by choice
Herd Master
That is good news the others are negative.
Ask your vet to please forward you the results from the lab.
Which lab was used?
Over </= 8 is negative
16 +
32 +
64 +
128 +
>/= 256 usually means internal CL if no external lumps present.
Of course lower levels can still be internal. Some have CL+ goats that maintain a 16 forever and never have an issue.
It all depends how you choose to manage your herd. Many have CL+ goats and are fine with it.
The person requesting the testing probably has a neg herd and wants to keep it that way and that is why it was requested. I do the same thing here. We are clean and at this point would not want to introduce a CL goat.
Don't stress too much over it. I am sure it was a shocker for you. Give yourself some "breathing" room...
Ask your vet to please forward you the results from the lab.
Which lab was used?
Over </= 8 is negative
16 +
32 +
64 +
128 +
>/= 256 usually means internal CL if no external lumps present.
Of course lower levels can still be internal. Some have CL+ goats that maintain a 16 forever and never have an issue.
It all depends how you choose to manage your herd. Many have CL+ goats and are fine with it.
The person requesting the testing probably has a neg herd and wants to keep it that way and that is why it was requested. I do the same thing here. We are clean and at this point would not want to introduce a CL goat.
Don't stress too much over it. I am sure it was a shocker for you. Give yourself some "breathing" room...
- Thread starter
- #6
I'm in Nova Scotia, the test was done at the Vet college, just spoke to the vet's office and they will try to get the titer level for me. Am waiting on results of CAE test, all were negative for Johnes. Thinking I should have the rest of the herd done. Am I understanding correctly that CL can pass with the milk if abcesses are in the udder so that babies shouldn't be nursed? It isn't genetic though, so an positive buck wouldn't pass it on that way? And any of the other goats could become infected if the one positive one is passing it through feces or from coughing? Big breath, big breath, don't panic yet, is what I'm telling myself.
Southern by choice
Herd Master
I suppose if a Buck has CL internally and it is in an area of reproduction it could? Not sure.There is concern that humans may be affected however I am not sure that has the evidence to support it.
I would check all the goats. The Vet school should have that info.
In the States not many can do the testing. Our's goes out to UCDavis... our State Lab (NC) does the CAE and Johnes.
Hang in there.
- Thread starter
- #8
Hi again Southern, just had a call from the vet and the titer is 32. Is that a number that will remain the same, or is it something that will worsen? I really have no idea what to do. First thing is to get everyone else tested I guess. Thanks for your help.
Southern by choice
Herd Master
It could stay the same... it could go up.
If I were in your shoes I would go ahead and test everyone. I would test for CAE and Johnes as well.
From there depending on the results I would form a plan of action. If all tested negative than I would cull the single positive goat.
How many goats do you have? Does/ Bucks/Kids
If I were in your shoes I would go ahead and test everyone. I would test for CAE and Johnes as well.
From there depending on the results I would form a plan of action. If all tested negative than I would cull the single positive goat.
How many goats do you have? Does/ Bucks/Kids
- Thread starter
- #10
I did test for Johnes and CAE as well, Johnes is negative, still waiting for CAE results. I have 8 does, three bucks, one wether and just now two kids. Three of the does, including the CL positive are bred. I just took my senior buck to a friends place to stay for a while, to give my young guy some space, I will have to go get him back right away I think. Just thought about that!
Not going to do anything in a hurry, after all, she has been here for three years, she may have been positive when she got here.
Yes, I will have them all tested. And go from there. Tks Southern, I appreciate your willingness to share your wisdom.
Not going to do anything in a hurry, after all, she has been here for three years, she may have been positive when she got here.
Yes, I will have them all tested. And go from there. Tks Southern, I appreciate your willingness to share your wisdom.
