Leptospirosis in farmed goats

There are several reports of infections due to Leptospira species occurring in goats in this country but they provide only limited information on the distribution or prevalence. It was therefore felt worthwhile to obtain data that would indicate the nature and extent of the infection in goats. A national survey of randomly selected sera was undertaken to look for antibodies to Leptospira. Sixty-four sera were randomly selected from 4000 samples, from angora stock, sent to the Central Animal Health Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheres as part of the caprine arthritis encephalitis accrediation scheme. A series of case studies were performed for comparison with the national survey. Samples of sera were taken from 364 animals from six farms located in the districts of Wanganui, Paraparaumu, Waikato, Featherston, Pohangina Valley and Palmerston North for serological testing…