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Small Ruminant Herd Health Flashcards

7 cards from real ICVA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Small Ruminant Herd Health flashcards as text

  1. Which reproductive pathogen causes 'chlamydiosis' and is a major cause of abortion in sheep in the US, particularly in the western states?

    Answer: Chlamydia abortus

    Chlamydia abortus (formerly Chlamydophila abortus) causes enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE), a leading infectious cause of ovine abortion in the US.

  2. A goat kid born in kidding season presents with fibrinous polyarthritis and keratoconjunctivitis. Culture reveals gram-negative diplococci. Which organism is most likely?

    Answer: Mycoplasma agalactiae

    Mycoplasma agalactiae is the primary cause of contagious agalactia in goats and sheep, manifesting as arthritis, mastitis, and keratoconjunctivitis (the 'MAK' syndrome).

  3. The estimated prevalence of a disease in a closed flock increases from 5% to 15% over one year. Which epidemiological term best describes this change?

    Answer: Incidence rate

    The number of new cases occurring in a defined population over a specific time period is the incidence rate, which reflects transmission dynamics within the flock.

  4. Which body condition score (BCS) system is most commonly used for sheep in the US, and at what scale?

    Answer: 1–5 scale with 0.5 increments

    The standard BCS system for sheep in the US uses a 1–5 scale assessed by palpation of the lumbar vertebrae and back muscle/fat cover.

  5. Which practice most effectively reduces the transmission of caprine arthritis-encephalitis (CAE) virus from does to kids?

    Answer: Pasteurizing or heat-treating colostrum before feeding

    CAE virus is primarily transmitted via colostrum and milk; heat-treating or pasteurizing colostrum (56°C for 1 hour) before feeding effectively prevents vertical transmission.

  6. Q fever (Coxiella burnetii) in small ruminants most commonly manifests as which clinical presentation?

    Answer: Late-term abortion and stillbirths

    Coxiella burnetii causes late-term abortions, stillbirths, and weak offspring in small ruminants, with infected does/ewes shedding large numbers of organisms at parturition.

  7. Which trace mineral deficiency in goats causes 'enzootic ataxia' (swayback) in kids, characterized by demyelination of the spinal cord?

    Answer: Copper

    Copper deficiency causes enzootic ataxia (swayback) due to impaired copper-dependent enzymes needed for myelin synthesis, resulting in progressive hind limb incoordination.