ABSTRACT
The World Organisation for Animal Health has 180 member countries and maintains a list of animal diseases, infections and infestations that it considers of most global importance. Worldwide, a number of 'new' or 'emerging' diseases have been described in goats and in other ruminant livestock species. Locally emerging diseases may be the result of movement of animals, animal products, personnel or vectors such as midges. Foot and mouth disease is one of the most important and economically devastating infectious diseases, potentially affecting livestock worldwide. For mouth lesions, consider orf, bluetongue, feeding trauma, toxic plant or chemical induced stomatitis and, in an individual animal, renal failure and uraemia. Bluetongue is an infectious, non-contagious arthropod-borne viral disease of ruminants. If anthrax is suspected, a post-mortem examination is highly inadvisable, as this would potentially release spores thus further contaminating the environment and acting as a severe zoonotic risk.
