Sheep and goats are both small ruminants with

cosmopolitan distribution In biogeography, cosmopolitan distribution is the term for the range of a taxon that extends across all or most of the world in appropriate habitats. Such a taxon, usually a species, is said to exhibit cosmopolitanism or cosmopolitism. The ext ...

s 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 digestion, digest solid food. Immune factors and immune ...

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. As ...

, and

meat Meat is animal flesh that is eaten as food. Humans have hunted, farmed, and scavenged animals for meat since prehistoric times. The establishment of settlements in the Neolithic Revolution allowed the domestication of animals such as chic ...

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

Prion diseases

* scrapie

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 Ivanovsky's 1 ...

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 Bluetongue disease is a noncontagious, insect-borne, viral disease of ruminants, mainly sheep and less frequently cattle, yaks, goats, buffalo, deer, dromedaries, and antelope. It is caused by ''Bluetongue virus'' (''BTV''). The virus is tr ...

border disease Border disease (BD) is a viral disease of sheep and goats, primarily causing congenital diseases, but can also cause acute and persistent infections. It first appeared in the border regions of England and Wales in 1959, and has since spread world ...

(hairy shaker disease) *

Cache Valley virus ''Cache Valley orthobunyavirus'' (CVV) is a member of the order ''Bunyavirales'', genus ''Orthobunyavirus'', and serogroup Bunyamwera, which was first isolated in 1956 from ''Culiseta inornata'' mosquitos collected in Utah's Cache Valley. CVV i ...

infection *

caprine arthritis encephalitis Caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE) is a viral disease of goats caused by a lentivirus called caprine arthritis encephalitis virus. The disease is found worldwide. Two syndromes of CAE occur. Adult goats develop a chronic progressive arthritis ...

(CAE) *

enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma Enzootic nasal adenocarcinoma is a fatal, malignant neoplastic, infectious disease in sheep and goats. It is caused by the Enzootic nasal tumor virus, a retrovirus similar to Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus, which causes a similar disease, also in shee ...

foot-and-mouth disease Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) or hoof-and-mouth disease (HMD) is an infectious and sometimes fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including domestic and wild bovids. The virus causes a high fever lasting two to six days, followe ...

* mastitis *

Nairobi sheep disease orthonairovirus The ''Nairobi sheep disease orthonairovirus'' (NSDV), also known as ''Ganjam virus'' is a species in the genus '' Orthonairovirus'' belonging to the Nairobi sheep disease serogroup. NSDV is enzootic, becoming epizootic when denser populations of ...

(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) * ovine progressive pneumonia (OPP) *

ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA), also known as ovine pulmonary adenomatosis, or jaagsiekte, is a chronic and contagious disease of the lungs of sheep and goats. OPA is caused by a retrovirus called jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV). Signs an ...

ovine rinderpest Ovine rinderpest, also commonly known as ''peste des petits ruminants'' (PPR), is a contagious disease primarily affecting goats and sheep; however, camels and wild small ruminants can also be affected. PPR is currently present in North, Central ...

, also known as peste des petits ruminants (PPR) * Rift Valley fever *

Schmallenberg virus ''Schmallenberg orthobunyavirus'', also called Schmallenberg virus, abbreviated SBV, is a virus that causes congenital malformations and stillbirths in cattle, sheep, goats, and possibly alpaca. It appears to be transmitted by midges (''Culicoide ...

infection *ulcerative dermatosis *variola caprina (

goatpox Variola caprina (goat pox) is a contagious viral disease caused by ''Goatpox virus'', a pox virus that affects goats. The virus usually spreads via the respiratory system, and sometimes spreads through abraded skin. It is most likely to occur ...

) *variola ovina (

sheeppox Sheeppox (or sheep pox, known as in Latin, in French, in German) is a highly contagious disease of sheep caused by a poxvirus different from the benign orf (or contagious ecthyma). This virus is in the family ''Poxviridae'' and genus '' Cap ...

) *

Wesselsbron virus ''Wesselsbron'' (WSL) ''virus'' is an arthropod-borne virus in the genus ''Flavivirus'' of the family ''Flaviviridae'' that causes Wesselsbron disease in cattle, sheep, goats, camels, pigs, donkeys, horses, ostriches, and wild ruminants with oc ...

infection

Bacterial diseases

Diseases caused by

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

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 Braxy is an infectious disease which causes sudden death in sheep. It is caused by the bacterium ''Clostridium septicum''. Braxy generally occurs in winter, when sheep eat frosted root crops, or frosted grass. The frozen feed damages the mucosa (l ...

* brucellosis *

caseous lymphadenitis Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium '' Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis'', that affects the lymphatic system, resulting in abscesses in the lymph nodes and internal organs. It is found mostly in goats and ...

chlamydiosis The Chlamydiota (synonym Chlamydiae) are a bacterial phylum and class whose members are remarkably diverse, including pathogens of humans and animals, symbionts of ubiquitous protozoa, and marine sediment forms not yet well understood. All of the ...

, also known as enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE) * contagious caprine pleuropneumonia *

dermatophilosis Rain scald (also known as dermatophilosis, tufailosis, rain rot or streptothricosis) is a Dermatology, dermatological disease affecting cattle and horses. Once in the skin, the bacterium ''Dermatophilus congolensis'' causes inflammation of the skin ...

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

enterotoxemia Enterotoxemia is a condition induced by the absorption of large volumes of toxins produced by bacteria such as ''Clostridium perfringens'' from the intestines. There are several strains of ''C. perfringens'' (type B, C, and D) that may lead to the d ...

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

infectious necrotic hepatitis Infectious necrotic hepatitis is a disease of large animals, especially sheep, caused by ''Clostridium novyi'' infection. The primary infection is intestinal and transferred by the faecal-oral route. Spores of ''C. novyi'' escape from the gut a ...

leptospirosis Leptospirosis is a blood infection caused by the bacteria ''Leptospira''. Signs and symptoms can range from none to mild (headaches, muscle pains, and fevers) to severe ( bleeding in the lungs or meningitis). Weil's disease, the acute, severe ...

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 ...

* mastitis * mycoplasmosis *

paratuberculosis Paratuberculosis is a contagious, chronic and sometimes fatal infection that primarily affects the small intestine of ruminants. It is caused by the bacterium ''Mycobacterium avium'' subspecies ''paratuberculosis''. Infections normally affect ru ...

(Johne's disease) * pasteurellosis * Q fever * salmonellosis * tularemia *

ulcerative balanoposthitis and vulvitis An ulcer is a discontinuity or break in a bodily membrane that impedes normal function of the affected organ. According to Robbins's pathology, "ulcer is the breach of the continuity of skin, epithelium or mucous membrane caused by sloughing o ...

, also known as necrotic balanoposthitis/vulvitis, pizzle disease, knobrot, or peestersiekte *

vibriosis ''Vibrio'' is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria, possessing a curved-rod (comma) shape, several species of which can cause foodborne infection, usually associated with eating undercooked seafood. Being highly salt tolerant and unable to survive ...

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 th ...

es include * candidiasis *

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 Facial eczema is a mycotoxic disease that affects the liver of several animals, mainly sheep and cattle, but can also infect other ungulates. It is caused by ingesting sporidesmins released by the fungus ''Pithomyces chartarum''. Its visible sy ...

* fungal placentitis *

sporotrichosis Sporotrichosis, also known as rose handler's disease, is a fungal infection that affects skin, lungs, bone and joint, and can be widespread. It presents with firm painless Nodule (medicine), nodules that later ulceration, ulcerate. It can be local ...

* zygomycosis

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 Protozoa (singular: protozoan or protozoon; alternative plural: protozoans) are a group of single-celled eukaryotes, either free-living or parasitic, that feed on organic matter such as other microorganisms or organic tissues and debris. Histo ...

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 schi ...

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 man ...

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 broa ...

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'' infect ...

'' *'' Eimeria'' species *'' Giardia intestinalis'' *''

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'' 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-'' (bore ...

'' species

Helminths

Flatworms

*''

Dicrocoelium dendriticum ''Dicrocoelium dendriticum'', the lancet liver fluke, is a parasite fluke that tends to live in cattle or other grazing mammals. History of discovery Much of what is presently known about ''Dicrocoelium dendriticum'' is the result of the wor ...

'' *''

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, inc ...

'' *''

Fasciola gigantica ''Fasciola gigantica'' is a parasitic flatworm of the class Trematoda, which causes tropical fascioliasis. It is regarded as one of the most important single platyhelminth infections of ruminants in Asia and Africa. Estimates of infection rates ...

'' *''

Fascioloides magna ''Fascioloides magna'', also known as giant liver fluke, large American liver fluke or deer fluke, is trematode parasite that occurs in wild and domestic ruminants in North America and Europe. Adult flukes occur in the liver of the definitive hos ...

'' *''

Schistosoma bovis ''Schistosoma bovis'' is a two-host blood fluke, that causes intestinal schistosomiasis in ruminants in North Africa, Mediterranean Europe and the Middle East. ''S. bovis'' is mostly transmitted by ''Bulinus'' freshwater snail species. It is on ...

Tapeworms

*'' Echinococcus granulosus'' *''

Moniezia ''Moniezia'' a genus of tapeworms that are parasitic in mammals, including sheep, goat and cattle. It comprises four known species such as '' M. expansa'', ''M. benedeni'', ''M. autumnalis'' and ''M. baeri''. '' M. expansa'' is the most well kno ...

'' species *'' Taenia ovis'' *''

Taenia hydatigena ''Taenia hydatigena'' (thin-necked bladderworm, causative agent of cysticercosis) is one of the adult forms of the canine and feline tapeworm. This infection has a worldwide geographic distribution. Humans with taeniasis can infect other humans ...

Roundworms

*''

Chabertia ovina ''Chabertia ovina'', the large-mouthed bowel worm, is a species of parasitic roundworms that infects sheep, goats (occasionally cattle) and other wild ruminants. Infection of pigs are very infrequent. It is not known to be contagious to humans. ...

'' *''

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. ''Dict ...

'' *''

Elaeophora schneideri ''Elaeophora schneideri'' (arterial worm; carotid worm; cause of elaeophorosis, aka "filarial dermatitis" or "sorehead" in sheep; or "clear-eyed" blindness in elk) is a nematode which infests several mammalian hosts in North America. It is trans ...

'' *'' Haemonchus contortus'' *'' Cooperia'' species *''

Muellerius capillaris ''Muelleries capillaris,'' also known as the hair or goat lungworm, is one of the most economically important nematodes of small ruminants. Although normally non-pathogenic in sheep, the parasite causes a disease condition called muelleriosis in ...

'' *'' Nematodirus'' species *'' Neostrongylus linearis'' *'' Oesophagostomum'' species *

parasitic bronchitis Parasitic bronchitis, also known as hoose, husk, or verminous bronchitis, is a disease of sheep, cattle, goats, and swine caused by the presence of various species of parasite, commonly known as lungworms, in the bronchial tubes or in the lungs. ...

, also known as "hoose" *'' Protostrongylus refescens'' *''

Teladorsagia circumcincta ''Teladorsagia circumcincta'' is a nematode that is one of the most important parasites of sheep and goats. It was previously known as ''Ostertagia circumcincta'' and is colloquially known as the brown stomach worm. It is common in cool, tempera ...

'' *'' Trichostrongylus'' species *''

Trichuris ovis ''Trichuris ovis'', commonly known as a whipworm, is a nematode belonging to the genus ''Trichuris''. This whipworm species was first discovered in 1795 and is known to infect sheep and goats. These organisms are capable of inhabiting any region ...

Arachnids and insects

Ticks

*'' Amblyomma'' species *''

Boophilus ''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 *'' Dermacentor'' species *'' Haemaphysalis'' species *'' Hyalomma'' species *'' Ixodes'' 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 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 eyelash ...

'' *''

Psorobia ovis ''Psorobia ovis'', the sheep itch mite, is a species of mite in the family Psorergatidae. It can cause mange in sheep Sheep or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are domesticated, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Although the te ...

'' *'' Psoroptes ovis'' *''

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 The Mallophaga are a possibly paraphyletic section of lice Louse ( : lice) is the common name for any member of the clade Phthiraptera, which contains nearly 5,000 species of wingless parasitic insects. Phthiraptera has variously been reco ...

**'' Damalinia caprae'' (goats) **''

Damalinia crassipes ''Damalinia'' is a genus of lice belonging to the family Trichodectidae. Synonyms: * ''Cervicola'' Kéler, 1934 * ''Tragulicola'' Lyal, 1985 Species: * ''Damalinia adenota'' (Bedford, 1936) * ''Damalinia appendiculata'' (Piaget, 1880) * ''Da ...

'' (goats) **'' Damalinia limbata'' (goats) **'' Damalinia ovis'' (sheep) *

sucking lice Sucking lice (Anoplura, formerly known as Siphunculata) have around 500 species and represent the smaller of the two traditional superfamilies of lice. As opposed to the paraphyletic chewing lice, which are now divided among three suborders, ...

**''

Linognathus africanus ''Linognathus'' is a genus of lice belonging to the family Linognathidae. The species of this genus are found in Eurasia, Africa and Northern America. Species: * ''Linognathus aepycerus'' Bedford, 1936 * ''Linognathus africanus ''Linognathu ...

'' (sheep and goats) **''

Linognathus ovillus ''Linognathus'' is a genus of lice belonging to the family Linognathidae. The species of this genus are found in Eurasia, Africa and Northern America. Species: * ''Linognathus aepycerus'' Bedford, 1936 * ''Linognathus africanus ''Linognathu ...

'' (sheep) **''

Linognathus pedalis ''Linognathus'' is a genus of lice belonging to the family Linognathidae. The species of this genus are found in Eurasia, Africa and Northern America. Species: * ''Linognathus aepycerus'' Bedford, 1936 * ''Linognathus africanus ''Linognathu ...

'' (sheep) **'' Linognathus stenopsis'' (goats)

Flies

*mosquitoes **'' Aedes'' species **'' Anopheles'' species **'' Culex'' species * myiasis **

fly strike 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 Biological tissue, tissue. Although flies are most commonly attracted to open wounds and urine- or feces-soa ...

***'' Chrysomya'' 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 human ...

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

Melophagus ovinus ''Melophagus ovinus'', or the sheep ked, is a brown, hairy fly that resembles a tick. This wingless fly is about 4 to 6 mm long and has a small head; it is a fly from the family Hippoboscidae. They are blood-feeding parasites of sheep. The ...

'')

References

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