Caprine arthritis and encephalitis (CAE) is a lentiviral infection of goats and a chronic disease affecting various organ systems. In goats, it most commonly manifests as chronic polyarthritis. The disease can cause major economic losses to breeders, as it can lead to lower milk production and early culling of animals. CAE is a common disease worldwide for which there is no treatment or effective drug. Early diagnosis is essential to control the disease and prevent its spread. In the absence of accurate data on the prevalence of the disease in Slovenia, we conducted an online survey. The link to the survey was sent by e-mail to 100 Slovenian goat breeders, 32 of whom participated in the survey. The responses indicate that 59.4% of breeders are familiar with the disease, although they have not noticed any neurological disorders (lameness, reluctance to stand up, walking in circles), swollen leg joints or limping in their flocks. Most breeders (90.6%) believe that their flocks are not yet affected by the disease. 40.6% of them have taken preventive measures to prevent the spread of the disease; for example, they check the health status of the animal before purchase. 62.5% of breeders have not had the blood of their goats tested for the disease.
|
