Diseases

• Abscess in Angora GoatsHow does an Angora goat develop an abscess?
  Wednesday, 28th February 2024
• Cerebral Gliosis and Spongiosis in Angora goatsA number of cases involving neurological signs and deaths have been seen on different farms both in adults and young kids where the histopathology report has indicated cerebral gliosis and spongiosis.
  Wednesday, 28th February 2024
• Cancer- Heart (Sarcoma)A case of an Angora goat ram (>1 year old) that was a ‘poor doer’, and which underwent significant weight loss was investigated.
  Wednesday, 17th January 2024
• Papillomavirus and Fibropapillomas in Angora goatsPapillomas are benign growths that occur on the skin and mucous membranes of Angora goats (and other animals-especially cattle)
  Tuesday, 7th November 2023
• Clostridiun Haemolyticum - Bacilliary Haemogloninuria ‘Red Water’Clostridium haemolyticum (previously known as Clostridium novyi Type D) has NOT been diagnosed in Angora goats in South Africa.
  Thursday, 24th August 2023
• Clostridium Novyi Type B – infectious necrotic hepatitis, black diseaseThis is a disease primarily of sheep and cattle and has NOT been diagnosed in Angora goats in South Africa
  Thursday, 24th August 2023
• Abscess - Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosisThe abscesses are also called ‘caseous lymphadenitis’ or ‘cheesy gland’. It was previously known as Corynebacterium ovis.The chronic and debilitating nature of the disease will lead to poor hair production and poor reproduction.
  Tuesday, 20th June 2023
• Abscess - Trueperella pyogenes(Previously known as Actinomyces pyogenes or Corynebacterium pyogenes)
  Wednesday, 10th May 2023
• Botryomycosis – Pyogranulomatous bacterial infection in Angora goatsBotryomycosis (Pyogranulomatous) is a chronic bacterial granulomatous disease that usually involves skin and rarely organs in Angora goats the infection has been seen and diagnosed by biopsy of an oral lesion. It oral lesions are most likely the res...
  Monday, 27th March 2023
• Pseudomonas infection in Angora goatsPseudomonas spp. particularly P. aeruginosa are opportunistic bacteria and not often of importance. In sheep it is the cause of fleece rot and causes pigmented wool. In Australia fleece rot with flystrike is one of the most important production losse...
  Monday, 20th March 2023
• Rhodococcus equi infection in Angora goatsRhodococcus (previously Corynebacterium) equi infection is associated with horses. Very rarely it is associated with other species like goats, cattle, sheep and pigs. Cases in horses in the Karoo (Colesberg) have been detected since 1957. Rhodococcus...
  Tuesday, 21st February 2023
• Salmonella Infections in Angora GoatsSalmonella infections in Angora goats has not been a problem but potentially could arise under intensive conditions such as in a feedlot environment, intensive housing and kidding pens.
  Tuesday, 7th February 2023
• Clostridium perfringens Toxins (Enterotoxeamia)The overgrowth and production of toxins by the bacteria Clostridium perfringens is a common cause of death in angora goats. The effects and toxins involved in goats are poorly understood.
  Tuesday, 20th December 2022
• Clostridium perfringens C - Necrotic enteritisAs Mohair producers we are all familiar with the common Clostridium enterotoxaemia diseases of ‘Pulpy Kidney’,’Bloedpens’ and ‘Rooiderm’ but not with Necrotic enteritis.
  Wednesday, 9th November 2022
• Milk Fever, Parturient paresis in Angora goatsMilk fever in Angora goats is rare but we may see more cases as multiple pregnancies become more common. Milk fever is most likely to occur in the 3-4 weeks (mineralisation of the kid skeleton) before kidding up to 6 weeks post kidding in multiple bi...
  Tuesday, 20th September 2022
• Cryptosporidiosis in Angora GoatsCryptosporidiosis referred to as ‘Crypto’ has been a major problem in calves and lambs under intensive conditions in South Africa since 2013.
  Tuesday, 20th September 2022
• SWELLING DISEASE (Swelsiekte)-Is this the Answer?SWELLING DISEASE ‘SWELSIEKTE’
  Thursday, 2nd June 2022
• SWELLING DISEASE (Swelsiekte)-Theories and Trials conductedThe first cases of swelling disease in South African Angora goats were reported during the early 1970s. 
  Thursday, 2nd June 2022
• SWELLING DISEASE (Swelsiekte)-The role of the Blood ProteinsThe first cases of swelling disease in South African Angora goats were reported during the early 1970s.  A number of trials have been conducted to investigate the cause of this disease over the subsequent years.
  Thursday, 2nd June 2022
• SWELLING DISEASE (Swelsiekte)-The role of the Inflammatory processSWELLING DISEASE (Swelsiekte) - Role of the inflammatory process
  Thursday, 2nd June 2022
• Eperythrozoonosis (Mycoplasma ovis)Eperythrozoonosis in sheep in South Africa is well known. Mycoplasma ovis  (Eperythrozoon ovis) may play a role in the ill-thrift syndrome in sheep and goats, particularly in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.
  Wednesday, 12th January 2022
• Meningoencephalitis (bacterial) in Angora goat kidsDeaths in young (approximately a month old) Angora kids have occurred where they have been kept under intensive conditions with their mothers.
  Sunday, 24th October 2021
• Angora Kid MortalityThe average mortality rate from birth to weaning of kids in 12 Angora goat studs over a three-year period (2000-2002 Gretha Snyman) was 10.7 % (varying from 5.7 % to 17.8 % among the different studs).
  Tuesday, 14th September 2021
• Diarrhoea in Angora GoatsDiarrhoea is a symptom of an underlying problem and not a disease in itself.
  Tuesday, 14th September 2021
• Lymphocytic-Plasmacytic Enteritis (LPE) in Angora GoatsThe weak, loss of condition, and death of young Angora goats.
  Thursday, 6th May 2021
• CCPP (Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia)Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP) currently does not occur in Angora goats in South Africa but in goats in East Africa and the Middle East.
  Friday, 11th September 2020
• Cancer in Angora Goats - Mandible: FibrosarcomaA young Angora goat ram was presented with a swelling of the mandible (jaw) and its tongue protruding to the right. The ram had difficulty swallowing and was in a poorer condition than his peers.
  Monday, 22nd June 2020
• 'Opthalmia' 'pink eye' 'aansteeklike blindheid'The proper name is infectious keractoconjunctivitis which is the inflammation of the cornea and conjunctiva. Pink eye affects Angora goats and sheep. The bacteria implicated (Chlamydophila, Mycoplasma or Moroxella) cause the condition to be highly in...
  Friday, 5th June 2020
• Anthrax (Miltsiekte)Anthrax is a highly contagious disease of both animals and humans caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis.
  Friday, 31st May 2019
• Rift Valley Fever (RVF) – Vaccinating maiden ewes each yearA Rift Valley Fever (RVF) outbreak can have devastating consequences on a livestock production system. Due to the irregular outbreaks, sometimes decades apart, farmers often seem reluctant to vaccinate their livestock.
  Tuesday, 26th March 2019
• Foot and Mouth Disease 
  Wednesday, 20th March 2019
• Phytobezoariasis (Plant hair balls)The formation of plant-hair balls (phytobezoars) in the abomasum of Angora goats is an occasional problem in the karoo region. More commonly in the mountain areas of the southern Karoo. Goats are more susceptible than sheep and Boer goats more than A...
  Monday, 26th November 2018
• Cretinism (Iodine Deficiency) In Angora Goat KidsCongenital iodine deficiency syndrome also called cretinism, is a condition of severely stunted physical neurological growth due to a congenital deficiency of thyroid hormone (congenital hypothyroidism) usually owing to maternal hypothyroidism.
  Thursday, 1st November 2018
• Birth abnormalities in Angora kidsWhen Angora Kids are born weak or with conformational abnormalities we usually think of the cause as being one of the conditions or diseases causing abortions. Diseases occurring in the first few days of life of the kid may also cause weakness and de...
  Friday, 18th May 2018
• Why are Angora Goats more susceptible to cold during summer than winter?Angora goats are known to be vulnerable to cold stress, especially for the first 6 weeks after shearing.
  Thursday, 26th April 2018
• Hypocortisolism in Angora GoatsText extracted from:  A REVIEW OF THE ROLE OF CYTOCHROME P450 17-HYDROXYLASE/17,20 LYASE (CYP17) IN HYPOCORTISOLISM IN SOUTH AFRICAN ANGORA GOATS 
  Tuesday, 20th March 2018
• CampylobacterCampylobacter (Campylobacter fetus fetus) is NOT a current reproductive issue in Angora goats but is a major problem effecting fertility in cattle in South Africa (Campylobacter fetus venerealis).
  Monday, 12th March 2018
• NITRATE POISONINGNitrate poisoning is a non-diagnosed but a potential rare poisoning of Angora goats in the Karoo.
  Monday, 12th March 2018
• Hairy Shaker Disease (Border disease)Border disease has not been of any significance in Angora goats in South Africa.  In 1972 clinical signs suggested that Border disease may have been involved in abortions and antibody titres have since been detected.
  Monday, 12th March 2018
• LeptospirosisLeptospirosis has not been diagnosed in Angora goats in South Africa.
  Monday, 12th March 2018
• ToxoplasmosisToxoplasmosis as a cause of abortion in Angora goats in South Africa has not been diagnosed.
  Monday, 12th March 2018
• Fly Strike, Myiasis, ‘Brommers’Fly strike, although more of a problem in sheep, does occur in Angora goats in South Africa.
  Tuesday, 6th March 2018
• Clostridium ChauvoeiGas gangrene, Blackquarter, ‘sponsiekte’
  Wednesday, 21st February 2018
• Clostridium Novyi Type A‘Dikkop’ Swelled head
  Wednesday, 21st February 2018
• Prolapse of Vagina, Rectum or UterusMohair producers will from time to time see an Angora ewe with a prolapse of the Vagina, rectum or uterus. Vaginal and mild uterine prolapses can occur just prior to kidding season in some ewes. Complete uterine prolapses occurs after kidding.
  Tuesday, 13th February 2018
• Pulpy Kidney, ‘Bloednier’, Enterotoxeamia Clostrdium perfringens type D‘Pulpy Kidney’ or ‘Bloednier’ is not a diagnosis but describes the result of accelerated post mortal autolysis. The toxin producing bacteria Clostridium perfrigens Type D (Cl. perf  D)  can also be isolated from the gut of normal goats. The...
  Wednesday, 15th November 2017
• Spring Lamb ParalysisTick paralysis is an acute, progressive, symmetrical, ascending motor paralysis caused by a salivary neurotoxin produced by certain species of ticks. See article on The Karoo Paralysis Tick (Ixodes rubicundus) .
  Tuesday, 14th November 2017
• ListeriosisListeriosis  has not been diagnosed in Angora goats in the Karoo and is not economically important. It potentially, but rarely, effects most farm animals as well as humans.
  Tuesday, 14th November 2017
• Polioencephalomalacia: Vit B1 deficiency in Angora GoatsUPDATED JUNE 2020
  Tuesday, 14th November 2017
• Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in goatsThis is currently NOT a disease to concern Angora goat farmers as it has NOT reached South Africa.
  Tuesday, 14th November 2017
• ‘Domsiekte’, Ketosis, Pregnancy Toxaemia‘Domsiekte’ also called Ketosis is an uncommon condition of Angora goat ewes in the Karoo occurring in late pregnancy. The condition in most cases usually results in death after about 2-10 days.
  Tuesday, 14th November 2017
• Joint –ill (Angora Kids)Joint-ill usually occurs in Angora goat kids under a month old and results in the development of swollen joints, lameness and deaths.
  Wednesday, 25th October 2017
• Paralysis Tick - ‘bosluisverlamming’Karoo tick paralysis ‘Karoo-bosluisverlamming’ in Angora goats can occur in large areas of the mohair producing areas of the karoo and surrounding regions.
  Wednesday, 25th October 2017
• Bloat in Angora GoatsBloat in Angora goats can occur particularly when Lucerne lands are grazed but also when certain toxic plants have been eaten.
  Wednesday, 25th October 2017
• Hair Obstruction (Trichobezoar) in an Angora goat kidConducting Post Mortems on behalf of SAMGA one often comes across the odd interesting case as happened here while investigating Angora Kid deaths. These young kids (less than 2 months old) were running with ewes on old zero grazing lands during droug...
  Thursday, 21st September 2017
• Cold (Hypothermia) and the Angora goatA lot of research has been conducted over the years into the aspect of cold, wet and windy conditions due to these losses.
  Friday, 15th September 2017
• Johne's disease in Angora goatsJohne’s is caused by Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) and any ruminant species is susceptible. Johne’s can therefore potentially be a threat to the Angora goat. The disease has however not been diagnosed in Angora goats in South Africa ...
  Tuesday, 30th May 2017
• Testicle Abnormalities in Angora GoatsAbnormalities of the testicles in Angora rams are rare relative to sheep.
  Friday, 5th May 2017
• Footrot 'Vrotpootjie' in Angora GoatsFootrot, also called ’Vrotpootjie’, must not be confused with a foot abscess, also called ‘Sweerklou’, in Angora goats.
  Tuesday, 18th April 2017
• 'Gallsickness' AnaplasmosisAnaplasmosis, formerly known as ‘gall sickness’, in Angora goats is not of great importance as it is usually a subclinical or mild condition that rarely results in a fever, anaemia, icterus or death. It does however have more of an effect on goat...
  Tuesday, 18th April 2017
• Q fever - Coxiella BurnetiiQ fever,Coxiella burnetii, in Angora goats can potentially be associated with abortions and peri-natal deaths although the incidence is unknown and more research is required. The role of Q-fever in abortions is also uncertain as antibodies have been ...
  Tuesday, 18th April 2017
• Graaff-Reinet disease - Maedi-VisnaMaedi-visna or also called Ovine Progressive Pneumonia or Graaff-Reinet disease.
  Tuesday, 18th April 2017
• Wesselsbron DiseaseWesselsbron disease is usually associated with Rift Valley Fever (RVF) as the conditions and vectors (mosquitos) are similar.
  Tuesday, 18th April 2017
• Tetanus 'Klem-in-die-kaak' in Angora goatsTetanus is occasionally seen in Angora goats after castration using an elastic ring but infection through any penetrating wound such as after shearing or difficult birth, by the bacteria Clostridium tetani, is possible.
  Tuesday, 18th April 2017
• The importance of Fibre when feeding Angora goatsThe importance of Fibre when feeding Angora goats- Acidosis
  Friday, 13th January 2017
• Bluetongue in Angora Goats?Bluetongue is well known by sheep farmers in the Karoo. The effects of the disease on Angora goats are less well known. Angora goats have been shown to be susceptible to experimental infections with bluetongue virus but apart from a fever reaction sh...
  Tuesday, 18th October 2016
• Skin Cancer in Angora goatsSkin cancer in Angora goats
  Tuesday, 27th September 2016
• Escherichia coli (E.coli)Coli is a bacterium with a great number of serotypes of which only certain are pathogenic. The main disease condition caused by E.coli in Angora goats include:
  Sunday, 26th June 2016
• Clostridium Septicum - 'Baarmoedersponssiekte'Clostridium septicum ‘Baarmoeder sponssiekte’ or ‘uterine gas gangrene’
  Thursday, 26th May 2016
• Urolithiasis (Urinary stones, Bladder stones)Urinary stones (also referred to as bladder stones, uroliths or urinary calculi) is an accumulation of crystals and cellular debris to form a ‘stone’.  
  Thursday, 12th May 2016
• Hair loss in Angora goats- Dermatophilosis (Dermatophilus congolensis )A number of farms have reported Angora goats with significant hair loss. A crusty tan brown colour on the skin surface can be seen and when the hair is pulled it easily ‘breaks’- pulls away  at the skin surface.
  Monday, 9th May 2016
• 'Twisted gut' 'Draaiderm' 'Rooiderm'‘Rooiderm’ is a term that is used for a number of different conditions in the Angora goat. In this case the ‘Twisted gut’ or ‘Draaiderm’ leads to the bloody red colouring of the intestine, and hence the name ‘rooiderm’. This must not ...
  Tuesday, 1st December 2015
• Abortion - Enzootic abortionAbortions in Angora Goats may occur at any stage of pregnancy and may have a number of causes. The foetus may be born dead or alive. Probably the most important cause of abortion after day 90 of pregnancy is a nutritional energy deficiency. https://w...
  Friday, 18th September 2015
• Abortion – Brucellosis melitensisBrucellosis in Angora goats is caused by Brucella melitensus. This is to date an extremely rare condition in Angora goats and only a few isolated cases have ever been diagnosed in goats South Africa. Cases have been reported in Namibia and Zimbabwe....
  Friday, 18th September 2015
• Abscess – Foot Abscess ‘Sweerklou’Background
  Monday, 2nd March 2015
• Mastitis 'Blue Udder' 'blou-uier'Severe cases can result in death of the ewe or result in starvation of the kid, but more losses occur from premature culling, and reduced performance of kids.
  Thursday, 26th February 2015
• HeartwaterSpread of Heartwater
  Tuesday, 27th January 2015
• RabiesRabies in Angora goats is extremely rare but it is possible that they can, in the same way as humans, become accidentally infected.
  Thursday, 16th October 2014
• Clostridium perfringens type B ‘Lamb dysentery’,’ Bloedpens’, ‘Bloodgut’  ‘Enterotoxeamia’ ‘Rooiderm’
  Thursday, 16th October 2014
• PeestersiektePEESTERSIEKTE, BALANO-POSTHITIS Farmers are well aware of the incidence of the disease in Dorpers and Merino sheep but the disease can occur in Angora goats.
  Tuesday, 7th October 2014
• Anthelmintic Drug ClassificationThere are different drug groups with variations within each group. To simplify matters for the farmer, the different drug groups have been given numbers which are displayed on the container.  A different drug trade name does not always mean the acti...
  Tuesday, 12th August 2014
• Rift Valley FeverShould I vaccinate my Angora Goats against Rift Valley Fever (RVF)?
  Tuesday, 12th August 2014
• PNEUMONIAPasteurella  ‘Bont Long’ ‘Pneumonia’
  Tuesday, 12th August 2014
• Orf / VuilbekOrf, Scabby mouth or ‘Vuilbek’ in Angora goats
  Tuesday, 12th August 2014
• Anthelmintic ResistanceDetermine the Resistance Status on Your Farm
  Sunday, 10th August 2014
• Clostridium Perfringens Type AEnterotoxeamia, ’Rooiderm’, Haemorrhagic enteritis
  Friday, 8th August 2014