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GOAT DERMATITIS : A NEW VIRUS DISEASE OF GOATS IN INDIA
By J. R. HADDOW and J. A. IDNANI, Imperial Veterinary Research Institute, Mukteswar
(Received for publication on 2 April 1946)
(With Plates VII and VIII)
T HIS article describes the circumstances under which the disease was discovered, the main clinical
features and post-mortem findings, the aetiology and possible means of control. Although the
investigation is not complete, the present moment seems opportune to draw attention to the disease,
so that it may be recognized and its incidence and epizootiology recorded, as at present we have no
information
these points.
OCCURRENCE
During studies on cross-immunity reactions using sheep and goat-pox virus strains, we observed
that some of our discarded stock goat immunes were dying from an infection which was reported
to be goat-pox. On going into the matter we found that, though this condition on casual examina-
tion might be mistaken for an aberrant type of goat-pox such as has not infrequently been reported
in India, there were several easily recognized clinical features which made us doubt the accuracy
of the original diagnosis. Simultaneously we discovered the same disease in goats which were being
used on experimental work other than goat-pox, and reference to records yielded the additional
information that a similar condition had existed at Mukteswar in the healthy goat stocks on two
previous years during the monsoon period.
Since the investigation started, two outbreaks of goat dermatitis have been observed in the
healthy stocks; both apparently arose from outside sources and both occurred during the monsoon.
Also out of a number of specimens received at this Institute for confirmation of the diagnosis of goat-
pox, one originating in the United Provinces and ,one reported to be from an outbreak of pneu-
monia in goats in Sind proved to be aetiologically identical with the condition which was under study
at Mukteswar.
CLINICAL SYMPTOMS
In natural cases the first symptoms observed are general malaise accompanied by a high tem-
perature and rough staring coat. On examination, the skin is found to be studded with numerous
round elevated areas distributed over the body surface (Plate VII, figs. 1 and 2) and extending on
to the lips, gums and tongue. Simultaneously or within a day or two, symptoms of pneumonia
appear and death follows invariably.
In cases artificially produced by rubbing dilute emulsions of tissue from the stud-like nodules
on to the scarified skin of healthy goats there is an incubation period of seven to ten days, after which
the scarified area shows sharply circumscribed circular hyperaemic areas and simultaneously the
temperature rises two to three degrees. The hyperaemia rapidly increases, the area becomes thick-
ened and elevated, and within 48 hours there is a hard stud of rubbery consistence and black colour.
The nodules are approximately 4-12 mm. in diameter and raised about 1—2 mm. above the normal
surface. At no stage in the development of the nodules is there any vesiculation or pustule formation.
Within seven to ten days the tissue of the nodule becomes necrotic and is shed, leaving a shallow
ulcer with a very clear-cut punched-out rim the floor of which is bright red and faintly striated. There
is little pus formation and the floor of the ulcer gradually dries up and forms a scab which is strongly
adherent to the underlying tissues. Healing takes place from the periphery and is very slow, the
scabs remaining in place for three weeks or longer in the few cases which survive. The nodules
in the buccal cavity are similar in character but are greyish-white in colour. The pyrexia persists
for nine to ten days or until a few hours before death. In very acute cases death may occur within
three or four days after the appearance of skin lesions ; in less acute cases accompanied by generali-
zation, an invariably fatal and apparently secondary pneumonia is a constant feature. In a few
cases, as for instance when inoculation by scarification is practiced, the lesions remain localized and
animals may survive.
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