Sheep and goats are both small

ruminant Ruminants (suborder Ruminantia) are hoofed herbivorous grazing or browsing mammals that are able to acquire nutrients from plant-based food by fermenting it in a specialized stomach prior to digestion, principally through microbial actions. The ...

s with cosmopolitan distributions due to their being kept historically and in modern times as grazers both individually and in herds in return for their production of

milk Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfed human infants) before they are able to digest solid food. Immune factors and immune-modula ...

wool Wool is the textile fibre obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have properties similar to animal wool. ...

, and meat. As such, the diseases of these animals are of great economic importance to humans.

Prion diseases

scrapie Scrapie () is a fatal, degenerative disease affecting the nervous systems of sheep and goats. It is one of several transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), and as such it is thought to be caused by a prion. Scrapie has been known since ...

Viral diseases

Diseases caused by

virus A virus is a submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism. Viruses infect all life forms, from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea. Since Dmitri Ivanovsk ...

es include: *

Akabane virus ''Akabane virus'' is an insect-transmitted virus that causes congenital abnormalities of the central nervous systems in ruminants. The virus is found in Australia, where it is most commonly spread by biting midges of the ''Culicoides'' species. ...

infection * bluetongue disease * border disease (hairy shaker disease) * Cache Valley virus infection * caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE) * enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma * foot-and-mouth disease *

mastitis Mastitis is inflammation of the breast or udder, usually associated with breastfeeding. Symptoms typically include local pain and redness. There is often an associated fever and general soreness. Onset is typically fairly rapid and usually occurs ...

* Nairobi sheep disease orthonairovirus (NSDV) infection *

orf ORF or Orf may refer to: * Norfolk International Airport, IATA airport code ORF * Observer Research Foundation, an Indian research institute * One Race Films, a film production company founded by Vin Diesel * Open reading frame, a portion of the ...

, also known as contagious ecthyma, contagious pustular dermatitis, infectious labial dermatitis, thistle disease, sore mouth, or scabby mouth *ovine encephalomyelitis (

louping ill Louping-ill () is an acute viral disease primarily of sheep that is characterized by a biphasic fever, depression, ataxia, muscular incoordination, tremors, posterior paralysis, coma, and death. Louping-ill is a tick-transmitted disease whose occu ...

) *

ovine progressive pneumonia ''Visna-maedi virus'' (also known as ''Visna virus'', ''Maedi-visna virus'' and ''Ovine lentivirus'') from the genus ''Lentivirus'' and subfamily '' Orthoretrovirinae'', is a retrovirus that causes encephalitis and chronic pneumonitis in sheep. ...

(OPP) * ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma * ovine rinderpest, also known as peste des petits ruminants (PPR) * Rift Valley fever * Schmallenberg virus infection *ulcerative dermatosis *variola caprina ( goatpox) *variola ovina ( sheeppox) * Wesselsbron virus infection

Bacterial diseases

Diseases caused by

bacteria Bacteria (; singular: bacterium) are ubiquitous, mostly free-living organisms often consisting of one Cell (biology), biological cell. They constitute a large domain (biology), domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometr ...

include: *

anaplasmosis Anaplasmosis is a tick-borne disease affecting ruminants, dogs, and horses, and is caused by ''Anaplasma'' bacteria. Anaplasmosis is an infectious but not contagious disease. Anaplasmosis can be transmitted through mechanical and biological vector ...

* blackleg * braxy *

brucellosis Brucellosis is a highly contagious zoonosis caused by ingestion of unpasteurized milk or undercooked meat from infected animals, or close contact with their secretions. It is also known as undulant fever, Malta fever, and Mediterranean fever. The ...

* caseous lymphadenitis * chlamydiosis, also known as enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE) *

contagious caprine pleuropneumonia Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) is a cause of major economic losses to goat producers in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Disease is caused by members of the Mycoplasma genus – usually ''Mycoplasma capricolum'' subsp. ''capricolum' ...

* dermatophilosis, also known as cutaneous streptothricosis, rainscald, rain rot, lumpy wool, or strawberry footrot *

ehrlichiosis Ehrlichiosis is a tick-borne bacterial infection, caused by bacteria of the family Anaplasmataceae, genera '' Ehrlichia'' and ''Anaplasma''. These obligate intracellular bacteria infect and kill white blood cells. The average reported annual in ...

* enterotoxemia * enzootic posthitis and vulvitis, also known as sheath rot, pizzle rot, or enzootic balanoposthitis *

foot rot Foot rot, or infectious pododermatitis, is a hoof infection commonly found in sheep, goats, and cattle. As the name suggests, it rots away the foot of the animal, more specifically the area between the two toes of the affected animal. It is extrem ...

* infectious necrotic hepatitis * leptospirosis *

listeriosis Listeriosis is a bacterial infection most commonly caused by '' Listeria monocytogenes'', although '' L. ivanovii'' and '' L. grayi'' have been reported in certain cases. Listeriosis can cause severe illness, including severe sepsis, men ...

mycoplasmosis ''Mycoplasma'' is a genus of bacteria that, like the other members of the class '' Mollicutes'', lack a cell wall around their cell membranes. Peptidoglycan ( murein) is absent. This characteristic makes them naturally resistant to antibiotic ...

* paratuberculosis (Johne's disease) *

pasteurellosis Pasteurellosis is an infection with a species of the bacterial genus ''Pasteurella'', which is found in humans and other animals. ''Pasteurella multocida'' (subspecies ''P. m. septica'' and ''P. m. multocida'') is carried in the mouth and respir ...

Q fever Q fever or query fever is a disease caused by infection with ''Coxiella burnetii'', a bacterium that affects humans and other animals. This organism is uncommon, but may be found in cattle, sheep, goats, and other domestic mammals, including ...

salmonellosis Salmonellosis, more commonly known as food poisoning is a symptomatic infection caused by bacteria of the ''Salmonella'' type. It is also a food-borne disease and are defined as diseases, usually either infectious or toxic in nature, caused by a ...

tularemia Tularemia, also known as rabbit fever, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium ''Francisella tularensis''. Symptoms may include fever, skin ulcers, and enlarged lymph nodes. Occasionally, a form that results in pneumonia or a throat infe ...

* ulcerative balanoposthitis and vulvitis, also known as necrotic balanoposthitis/vulvitis, pizzle disease, knobrot, or peestersiekte * vibriosis.

Fungal diseases

Diseases caused by

fungus A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from t ...

es include *

candidiasis Candidiasis is a fungal infection due to any type of '' Candida'' (a type of yeast). When it affects the mouth, in some countries it is commonly called thrush. Signs and symptoms include white patches on the tongue or other areas of the mouth ...

cryptococcosis Cryptococcosis is a potentially fatal fungal infection of mainly the lungs, presenting as a pneumonia, and brain, where it appears as a meningitis. Cough, difficulty breathing, chest pain and fever are seen when the lungs are infected. When the ...

* facial eczema * fungal placentitis * sporotrichosis *

zygomycosis Zygomycosis is the broadest term to refer to infections caused by ''bread mold fungi'' of the zygomycota phylum. However, because zygomycota has been identified as polyphyletic, and is not included in modern fungal classification systems, the dise ...

Parasitic diseases

Parasite Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson has ...

s causing disease in sheep and goats include diseases caused by protozoa,

helminths Parasitic worms, also known as helminths, are large macroparasites; adults can generally be seen with the naked eye. Many are intestinal worms that are soil-transmitted and infect the gastrointestinal tract. Other parasitic worms such as ...

tapeworms Cestoda is a class of parasitic worms in the flatworm phylum (Platyhelminthes). Most of the species—and the best-known—are those in the subclass Eucestoda; they are ribbon-like worms as adults, known as tapeworms. Their bodies consist of ...

and

roundworm The nematodes ( or grc-gre, Νηματώδη; la, Nematoda) or roundworms constitute the phylum Nematoda (also called Nemathelminthes), with plant-parasitic nematodes also known as eelworms. They are a diverse animal phylum inhabiting a bro ...

Protozoa

*''

Babesia ''Babesia'', also called ''Nuttallia'', is an apicomplexan parasite that infects red blood cells and is transmitted by ticks. Originally discovered by the Romanian bacteriologist Victor Babeș in 1888, over 100 species of ''Babesia'' have since ...

'' species *''

Cryptosporidium parvum ''Cryptosporidium parvum'' is one of several species that cause cryptosporidiosis, a parasitic disease of the mammalian intestinal tract. Primary symptoms of ''C. parvum'' infection are acute, watery, and nonbloody diarrhea. ''C. parvum'' in ...

'' *''

Eimeria ''Eimeria'' is a genus of apicomplexan parasites that includes various species capable of causing the disease coccidiosis in animals such as cattle, poultry and smaller ruminants including sheep and goats. ''Eimeria'' species are considered to be ...

'' species *''

Giardia intestinalis ''Giardia duodenalis'', also known as ''Giardia intestinalis'' and ''Giardia lamblia'', is a flagellated parasitic microorganism of the genus ''Giardia'' that colonizes the small intestine, causing a diarrheal condition known as giardiasis. The ...

'' *''

Neospora caninum ''Neospora caninum'' is a coccidian parasite that was identified as a species in 1988. Prior to this, it was misclassified as ''Toxoplasma gondii'' due to structural similarities. The genome sequence of ''Neospora caninum'' has been determined by ...

'' *''

Sarcocystis ''Sarcocystis'' is a genus of protozoan parasites, with many species infecting mammals, reptiles and birds. Its name is dervived from Greek ''sarx'' = flesh and ''kystis'' = bladder. The lifecycle of a typical member of this genus involves two ...

'' species *'' Theileria lestoquardi'' (''hirsi'') *''

Toxoplasma gondii ''Toxoplasma gondii'' () is an obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan (specifically an apicomplexan) that causes toxoplasmosis. Found worldwide, ''T. gondii'' is capable of infecting virtually all warm-blooded animals, but felids, such as d ...

'' *''

Trypanosoma ''Trypanosoma'' is a genus of kinetoplastids (class Trypanosomatidae), a monophyletic group of unicellular parasitic flagellate protozoa. Trypanosoma is part of the phylum Sarcomastigophora. The name is derived from the Greek ''trypano-'' ( ...

'' species

Helminths

Flatworms

*'' Dicrocoelium dendriticum'' *''

Fasciola hepatica ''Fasciola hepatica'', also known as the common liver fluke or sheep liver fluke, is a parasitic trematode (fluke or flatworm, a type of helminth) of the class Trematoda, phylum Platyhelminthes. It infects the livers of various mammals, includi ...

'' *'' Fasciola gigantica'' *'' Fascioloides magna'' *'' Schistosoma bovis''

Tapeworms

*''

Echinococcus granulosus ''Echinococcus granulosus,'' also called the hydatid worm, hyper tape-worm or dog tapeworm, is a cyclophyllid cestode that dwells in the small intestine of canids as an adult, but which has important intermediate hosts such as livestock and hu ...

'' *'' Moniezia'' species *'' Taenia ovis'' *'' Taenia hydatigena''

Roundworms

*'' Chabertia ovina'' *''

Dictyocaulus filaria ''Dictyocaulus'' is a genus of nematode parasites of the bronchial tree of horses, sheep, goats, deer, and cattle. ''Dictyocaulus arnfieldi'' is the lungworm of horses, and ''Dictyocaulus viviparus'' is the lungworm affecting ruminants. ''Di ...

'' *'' Elaeophora schneideri'' *''

Haemonchus contortus ''Haemonchus contortus'', also known as the barber's pole worm, is a very common parasite and one of the most pathogenic nematodes of ruminants. Adult worms attach to abomasal mucosa and feed on the blood. This parasite is responsible for anemia ...

'' *'' Cooperia'' species *'' Muellerius capillaris'' *''

Nematodirus Trichostrongyloidea is a superfamily of nematodes under the order Strongylida. Includes genera such as '' Ostertagia'', '' Teladorsagia'', '' Trichostrongylus'', ''Haemonchus ''Haemonchus'' is a genus of nematodes belonging to the family T ...

'' species *'' Neostrongylus linearis'' *''

Oesophagostomum ''Oesophagostomum'' is a genus of parasitic nematodes (roundworms) of the family Strongylidae. These worms occur in Africa, Brazil, China, Indonesia and the Philippines. The majority of human infection with ''Oesophagostomum'' is localized to no ...

'' species * parasitic bronchitis, also known as "hoose" *'' Protostrongylus refescens'' *'' Teladorsagia circumcincta'' *''

Trichostrongylus ''Trichostrongylus'' species are nematodes (round worms), which are ubiquitous among herbivores worldwide, including cattle, sheep, donkeys, goats, deer, and rabbits.Garcia LS, editor. Diagnostic Medical Parasitology. 5 ed. Washington, DC: ASM Pr ...

'' species *'' Trichuris ovis''

Arachnids and insects

Ticks

*''

Amblyomma ''Amblyomma'' is a genus of hard ticks. Some are disease vectors, for example the Rocky Mountain spotted fever in Brazil or ehrlichiosis in the United States. This genus is the third largest in the family Ixodidae, with its species primarily o ...

'' species *'' Boophilus'' species *''

Dermacentor ''Dermacentor'' is a genus of ticks in the family Ixodidae, the hard ticks. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, with native species on all continents except Australia. Most occur in the Nearctic realm. Hosts of ''Dermacentor'' ticks incl ...

'' species *''

Haemaphysalis ''Haemaphysalis'' is a genus of ticks, containing these species: *'' Haemaphysalis aborensis'' Warburton, 1913 *'' Haemaphysalis aciculifer'' Warburton, 1913 *'' Haemaphysalis aculeata'' Lavarra, 1904 *'' Haemaphysalis adleri'' Feldman-Muhsam, 1 ...

'' species *''

Hyalomma ''Hyalomma'' is a genus of hard-bodied ticks common in Asia, Europe, and North Africa. They are also found in Southern Africa. The name is derived from Greek: hyalos (ὕαλος) crystal, glass; and omma (oμμα) eye. The genus is believed to ...

'' species *''

Ixodes ''Ixodes'' is a genus of hard-bodied ticks (family Ixodidae). It includes important disease vectors of animals and humans ( tick-borne disease), and some species (notably '' Ixodes holocyclus'') inject toxins that can cause paralysis. Som ...

'' species *''

Rhipicephalus ''Rhipicephalus'' is a genus of ticks in the family Ixodidae, the hard ticks, consisting of about 74 or 75 species. Most are native to tropical Africa.Olwoch, J. M., et al. (2007)Climate change and the genus ''Rhipicephalus'' (Acari: Ixodidae) in ...

'' species

Mites (mange)

*'' Chorioptes bovis'' *''

Demodex ovis ''Demodex'' is a genus of tiny mites that live in or near hair follicles of mammals. Around 65 species of ''Demodex'' are known. Two species live on humans: ''Demodex folliculorum'' and '' Demodex brevis'', both frequently referred to as eyelas ...

'' *''

Demodex caprae ''Demodex'' is a genus of tiny mites that live in or near hair follicles of mammals. Around 65 species of ''Demodex'' are known. Two species live on humans: ''Demodex folliculorum'' and ''Demodex brevis'', both frequently referred to as eyela ...

'' *'' Psorobia ovis'' *''

Psoroptes ovis ''Psoroptes'' is a genus of mites, including the agents that cause psoroptic mange. Psoroptic mange ''Psoroptes'' mites are responsible for causing psoroptic mange in various animals, leading to economic losses among farmers of cattle, sheep ...

'' *''

Sarcoptes scabiei ''Sarcoptes scabiei'' or the itch mite is a parasitic mite that burrows into skin and causes scabies. The mite is found in all parts of the world. Humans are not the only mammals that can become infected. Other mammals, such as wild and domesti ...

'' var. ''caprae'' *''

'' var. ''ovis''

Lice

* chewing lice **'' Damalinia caprae'' (goats) **'' Damalinia crassipes'' (goats) **'' Damalinia limbata'' (goats) **'' Damalinia ovis'' (sheep) * sucking lice **''

Linognathus africanus ''Linognathus'' is a genus of lice belonging to the family Linognathidae Linognathidae is a family of lice in the order Psocodea. There are at least 3 genera and 70 described species in Linognathidae. Genera These three genera Genus ( plu ...

'' (sheep and goats) **'' Linognathus ovillus'' (sheep) **'' Linognathus pedalis'' (sheep) **'' Linognathus stenopsis'' (goats)

Flies

*mosquitoes **''

Aedes ''Aedes'' is a genus of mosquitoes originally found in tropical and subtropical zones, but now found on all continents except perhaps Antarctica. Some species have been spread by human activity: '' Aedes albopictus'', a particularly invasive sp ...

'' species **''

Anopheles ''Anopheles'' () is a genus of mosquito first described and named by J. W. Meigen in 1818. About 460 species are recognised; while over 100 can transmit human malaria, only 30–40 commonly transmit parasites of the genus ''Plasmodium'', which ...

'' species **''

Culex ''Culex'' is a genus of mosquitoes, several species of which serve as vectors of one or more important diseases of birds, humans, and other animals. The diseases they vector include arbovirus infections such as West Nile virus, Japanese encep ...

'' species *

myiasis Myiasis is the parasitic infestation of the body of a live animal by fly larvae (maggots) which grow inside the host while feeding on its tissue. Although flies are most commonly attracted to open wounds and urine- or feces-soaked fur, some spe ...

** fly strike ***''

Chrysomya ''Chrysomya'' is an Old World blow fly genus of the family Calliphoridae. The genus ''Chrysomya'' contains a number of species including ''Chrysomya rufifacies'' and ''Chrysomya megacephala''. The term “Old World blow fly” is a derivative o ...

'' species ***'' Lucilia'' species **''

Oestrus ovis ''Oestrus ovis'', the sheep bot fly, is a widespread species of fly of the genus ''Oestrus''. It is known for its parasitic predation and damage to sheep, deer, goats and sometimes cattle. There have also been many records of horse, dog and huma ...

'' (sheep bot fly) *sheep ked ('' Melophagus ovinus'')

References

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