In Zimbabwe, there have been no chlamydiosis and limited brucellosis studies in goats. This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of the two diseases in goats at three different livestock–wildlife interface areas: porous, non-porous and non-interface in the south-eastern lowveld of Zimbabwe. Collected sera (n = 563) were tested for Brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) and the complement fixation test (CFT); and for Chlamydia abortus antibodies using the CFT. All tested goats were negative for Brucella antibodies. Overall, chlamydial seroprevalence was 22%. The porous [c2 = 9.6, odds ratio (OR) = 2.6, p = 0.002] and non-porous (c2 = 37.5, OR = 5.8, p < 0.00001) interfaces were approximately three and six times more likely to be chlamydial seropositive than the non-interface area, respectively. Chlamydial seroprevalence was not associated with sex (c2 = 0.5, OR = 1.2, p = 0.5), abortion history in female goats (c2 = 0.7, OR = 1.3, p = 0.4), keeping goats with cattle (c2 = 0.2, OR = 1.5, p = 0.7) or flock size (c2 = 0.03, OR = 1.4, p = 0.9). Our study provides the first serological evidence of chlamydiosis in goats in Zimbabwe and the results suggest that proximity to wildlife is associated with increased chlamydial seropositivity. Further studies are required to determine the role of chlamydial infection on goat reproductive failure and that of wildlife on C. abortus transmission to domestic ruminants.

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) plays an important role in reproduction and social activities in ruminants including goats. A morphological study on the structure of VNO and its epithelial cells was carried out in Korean black goats. Grossly, the VNO of Korean goats opens into mouth through incisive ducts. Microscopically, the epithelium of VNO consisted of medial sensory epithelium and lateral non-sensory epithelium. Several blood vessels and nerve bundles were observed in the lamina propria encased by vomeronasal cartilage. Immunohistochemical staining showed that protein gene product (PGP) 9.5 was immunostained in the receptor cells of the sensory epithelium and in some cells of the non-sensory epithelium. Galectin-3 was mainly observed in the supporting cells of sensory and non-sensory epithelium. Lectins including wheat germ agglutinin, Ulex europaeus agglutinin, Bandeiraea simplicifolia lectin Isolectin B4, Dolichos biflorus agglutinin and soybean agglutinin used in this study were bound in VNO sensory, non-sensory epithelia as well as in the lamina propria with varying intensity. Collectively, this is a first descriptive morphological study of VNO of Korean black goat with special reference to lectin histochemistry.

Fifteen dry dentate and complete mandible samples from the White Rasquera goat breed were studied for symmetry. Thirty-one landmarks were digitally located on the images of the lateral and medial aspects of each hemimandible. Distances between these landmarks allowed the evaluation of the whole hemimandible and also the neural mandible. In the studied samples, the mandible was rather symmetrical, especially in the medial neural part, and in general, there was no side dominance. Only the diastema differed significantly between the sides, and this was related to the rostral part (incisive arch). The incisive region was the least symmetrical region of the caprine mandible, indicating a modular structure more conservative for the neural part. If unsigned asymmetry is interpreted as a measure of developmental stability, then the studied breed presented a marked ability to develop in good fitness despite the harsh environment. The measurements presented here can also be used as a reference for researchers designing experimental studies, especially on mandibular catch-up growth, and as an aid for zooarchaeologists comparing results from dead animals with those from living goat populations.

There have been a number of studies of gonadotropes secretin LH and FSH in the adenohypophysis, but the pattern of hormone storage and secretion of these cells still remains a controversial matter. In this study, we examined whether gonadotropes contained both of LH and FSH, and if so, how these hormones were distributed within the secretory granules. Hypophyseal sections of Korean native goat were simultaneously immunostained for LH and FSH antisera by protein A-gold technique. It was found that most gonadotropes contained both FSH and LH, but hormone storages in the secretory granules were some different among cells. Three types of gonadotropes were identified by the shape and size of the secretory granules and their hormone storage patterns. One type(I) of gonadotropes contained oval secretory granules, which immunoreactivity for FSH and LH were very weak. The size of secretory granules ranged from 160 to 310nm in diameter. Most granules contained both FSH and LH, but some contained only one of them. In another type(II)of gonadotropes, the immunreactivity and hormone storage patterns of the secretory granules were similar to those of type I cells. However, the secretory granules were round in shape and larger in size than those of type I. The other gonadotropes(type III) were distinctly distinguished by plenty of hormones in their secretory granules which were densely packed with numerous immunolabelled gold particles. These data are some inconsistent with other results that have been obtained in other ruminants like as cattle and sheep.

The localization of substance P(SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP) and three calcium binding proteins, calbindin D-28k(CB), calretinin(CR) and parvalbumin(PA) was immunohistochemically examined in the myenteric and submucous plexuses of Korean native goat duodenum. In the neurons of myenteric and submucous plexuses of duodenum, immunoreactivities of SP, CGRP and CB were confirmed in both nerve cell bodies and fibers. In contrast, CR immunoreactivity was found only in nerve fibers of myenteric plexuses, while PA immunoreactivity was found only in nerve cell bodies of submucoun plexuses. In the inner circular muscle layer, dense SP-like immunoreactive fibers were prominent but only a few CGRP-like immunoreactivities were observed. Most of SP-and CGRP-like immunoreactive neurons of both plexuses colocalized with CB. This result showed that SP and CGRP may have a important role for the movement of small intestine. The colocalizations of CB with SP or CGRP in myenteric and submucous plexuses suggest that CB may serve neuromodulatory role for SP-and CGRP-immunoreactecd neurons on the movement of intestinal wall.

Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) is a chronic and contagious disease of sheep and goats caused by Corynebacterium (C.) pseudotuberculosis. A four-year-old female Saanen dairy goat was submitted to the Animal Disease Diagnostic Center at National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service. The clinical signs of the goat were emaciation, abortion and quadriplegia. The multifocal nodules of lymph nodes were encapsulated and filled with whitish caseous contents on the cut surface. Histopathologically, lymph nodes displayed suppurative and necrotizing granulomas. Caseous necrosis was diffusely observed in the center of the lymph nodes. Gram positive bacilli were shown in the lesions. C. pseudotuberculosis was isolated and confirmed by the biochemical tests and PCR assay. Based on clinical signs, histopathological examination and bacterial isolation, we diagnosed this case as CLA. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CLA in a Saanen dairy goat in Korea.

This paper describes a naturally occurring case of meningoencephalitis associated with Listeria monocytogenes in a 4 month-old Korean native goat. The goat was raised in a herd consisting of seventy goats, and fed on straw and leftover vegetables including onions, cauliflower, and bean sprouts. The clinical symptoms of the goat were depression, inappetence, anorexia, circling, and recumbency before death. No conspicuous gross lesions were found except consolidation of the lung.

The regional distributions and relative frequencies of the gastrin, secretin and pancreatic polypeptide(PP)-immunoreactive cells in the gastrointestinal tract of the fetus(180 days of gestation) of Korean native goat were sutdied with immunohistochemical(ABC) methods. Gastrin-immunoreactive cells were detected in fundus, pylorus and duodenum and these cells were most predominant in pylorus. Secretin-immunoreactive cells were observed in pylorus, duodenum and ileum. PP-immunoreactive cells were restricted to fundus. These immunoreactive cells were situated in surfact epithelium and mucosal gland regions. The regional distribution and relative frequency of PP-immunoreactive cells was somewhat different to the adult Korean native goat. Immunoreactive cells in thesurface epithelial regions were open typed cells which were spindle shaped cells but closed typed cells which were round or/to spherical shaped cells were observed in the mucosal gland regions.