
Purpose of Laboratory Testing
- Diagnosis of Disease
Test and Treat - Eradication of Disease
Test and Cull - Prevention of Disease
Test and Don’t Buy
Laboratory Diagnostics
- Major Organ Function
Heart/Liver/Kidney
Blood Chemistries
Glucose
Organ Specific Enzymes/Proteins - Hematological
Complete Blood Count(CBC)
White Blood Cells
Red Blood Cells
Hemoglobin - Hormone Levels
Parasitology
Infectious Diseases
- Bacteria
Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis/Caseous Lymphadenitis
Mycobacterium paratuberculosis/Johne’s Disease
Brucella sp. - Rickettsia
Coxiella burnetii/Q Fever - Virus
Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis - Parasite
Toxoplasmosis
Neospora caninum
Infectious Disease Diagnosis
Infecting Agent | Isolation/Identification |
Bacteria Fungi Virus | Culture and IDCulture and IDCulture/ID of Genetic material |
Pros | Cons |
Definitive Results | Slow (days to weeks) Fresh and viable sample required False Negative results Expense |
Infectious Disease Diagnosis
Disease Specific Antibody DetectionInfection induces immune response to fight the infection. Part of this response is the production of antibodies that specifically attach to and attack the infecting organism.
Serological lab test are designed to identify these antibodies as indicators of infection.
Pros | Cons |
Fast lab time 2-3 hours Accurate Inexpensive Blood Sample | May detect antibodies from past infections or other exposure. |
Serological Assay Techniques
- Agglutination Antigen Antibody complexes which are visible to the human eye
- Precipitation Antigen Antibody complexes which fall out of solution
- Complement Fixation Antigen antibody reaction assay which results in cell lyses


Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis
Retro virus (similar to HIV, FIV, EIA)
- Transmission infected animal’s blood cells Milk Blood Saliva Semen
- Symptoms
- Arthritis form: swollen knees hard udder decreased milk production shortened productive life span
- Encephalitis form: Paralysis and death
- Treatment None
Swollen Knees In CAE Positive Goat

Arthritis in CAE Positive Goat

Hard Udder in CAE Positive Goat

Encephalitis in CAE Positive Goat

Caseous Lymphadenitis
Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis- Transmission Draining fluid/exudate from abscesses enter via: Oral intake (licking abscess) Breaks in the skin
- Symptoms Subcutaneous abscesses Internal abscesses
- Treatment Lance/Drain/Disinfect Inject with Formalin
CL Abscess

CL Abscess

CL abscess in Lung of Goat

Johne’s Disease
Mycobacterium paratuberculosis Infection of the lining of the Intestinal tract leading to chronic inflammation and loss of ability to absorb nutrients- Transmission Oral intake of infected feces
- Symptoms Moderate to fast loss of body condition with good appetite Diarrhea
- Treatment None
- Eradication Strategy Test and Cull
Johne’s Disease

Johne’s Disease

Zoonotic Diseases
Diseases of animals that infect and harm HumansQ fever
Rickettsia Coxiella burnettii Transmitted by birthing fluids of infected animals Symptoms- Goats Late term Abortions Weak kids
- Humans Rash and flu like symptoms occasionally fatal, vegetative cardiac valve destruction
Toxoplasmosis
Parasite Toxoplasma gondii Transmitted in milk and feces of infected animals Symptoms- Goats None
- Humans Severe birth defects
Holding goat for blood Collection

Holding goat for blood Collection

One person blood collection

One person blood collection

One person blood collection


