This more recent date appeared in Switzerland in 1964, it was described as a viral disease. Diseases of adult goats occur after long contact with animals, males may be important in spreading the infection. Kids or lambs become infected by sucking colostrum or milk from infected mothers. The virus can remain in an animal's body without showing symptoms of the disease.
At the beginning of the disease, it is noticed that the goat has difficulty moving one and soon the other hind leg and limping, and in about two weeks a bent and enlarged knee joint of the front leg is noticed, which is why this disease was named "big knee". Inflammation of the joint is accompanied by a hardened udder after riding. Goats most often throw their head to one side towards the abdomen or upwards, followed by paralysis of the hind legs and inability to stand. Appetite is preserved, and adult goats suffer for several months. Jarad shows partial stiffness of the hind legs and pneumonia. Infected kids die in most cases.
The disease is not treated, and in prevention it is important that the blood of a nonoinfected animal must be examined in a laboratory at intervals of 4 to 6 months. Only after two consecutive negative findings did the animal be declared healthy, provided it had no contact with infected goats. This disease also occurs in sheep.
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