Let's Eradicate CAE from Australian Goats

30/07/2026

Early research but hopeful progress towards a CAE vaccine possibility https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42515654/ The link to existing lentiviruses such as HIV is mentioned.

Small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) infects goats and sheep of all breeds and ages worldwide. There are no current records regarding the three-dimensional structure or antigenic capacity of the nucleocapsid protein p14 of FESC-752 Mexican strain. The antigenic structure of p14 protein of a B1 genotype....

13/07/2026

The German Veterinary Medical Society (DVG) proposed a new nationwide program. It aims to wipe out Maedi-Visna (MV) and Caprine Arthritis-Encephalitis (CAE). These are slow, fatal viral diseases. The program requires mandatory herd screening, removing infected animals, and strict biosecurity to protect flocks.The Threat of MV and CAEBoth diseases are caused by "small ruminant lentiviruses." A lentivirus is a slow virus. It hides in the animal's body for years before causing harm.Maedi-Visna (MV): Affects sheep. It ruins the lungs (breathing problems) and brain.Caprine Arthritis-Encephalitis (CAE): Affects goats. It causes painful, swollen joints and paralyzes young kids.These viruses spread through infected milk, saliva, and breathing droplets. There is no cure and no vaccine. Once an animal has it, it has it for life.Core Program StrategyThe DVG proposal focuses on stopping the spread step-by-step:Testing: All sheep and goats over a certain age must get regular blood tests.Culling: Herds with infected animals must separate them immediately. Over time, these animals must be removed from the farm.Strict Biosecurity: Farms must stop sharing equipment, fences, and animals with infected herds.Milk Control: Feeding kids or lambs pooled colostrum (first milk) spreads the virus. Farmers must heat-treat milk or use milk from strictly negative mothers. Reference is in German . Jahrestagung der Fachgruppe Pathologie der Deutschen Veterinärmedizinischen Gesellschaft
Fulda, 13.–15.03.2026

29/06/2026

CAE in Brazil is above 65%
A survey showed that CAE or Small Ruminant Lentivirus was done using blood samples and 2 tests ( the AGID test doesn't pick up all positives but has almost no false positives and is now rarely used)https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13294318/pdf/11259_2026_Article_11363.pdf Australia doesn't have contagious agalactia.

14/06/2026

This is why the Australian Market Assurance Program for CAE requires no sheep be run with the goats https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18986775/ Sheep can be a reservoir of CAE virus.

Dissemination of small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) infections in Norway is affected by the different control strategies used for maedi-visna virus (MVV) infections in sheep and caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus (CAEV) infections in goats. Here we investigated SRLV phylogenetic group variants in sh...

11/06/2026

Research from Thailand
These researchers compared PCR and ELISA tests. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28865204/ They found that PCR tests had a lower sensitivity and higher specificity than ELISA so didn't pick up all carriers but had very few to none false positives. The best result was obtained by using both tests together- similar to what Australian researchers found.

For preventive and control strategies of Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus (CAEV) infection in dairy goats, performance of the available diagnostic tests was described as one of the most important and necessary aspects. The study aimed at evaluating the diagnostic test performance, including PCR,...

14/05/2026

8 dairy goat farms in Brazil were tested for CAE and positives were from 7 to 90 % of these herds. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42105129/ Researchers called for improved control & biosecurity practices.

Small Ruminant Lentiviruses (SRLVs) are widespread retroviruses of goats and sheep with significant economic and health impacts on small ruminant production systems. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and genotype distribution of SRLVs in dairy goat flocks from Brazil. A total of 433 blo...

07/05/2026

Survey in Portugal
Randomly chosen sheep flocks and goat herds (59) were tested for Small Ruminant Lentivirus (another name for CAE). Over half had a least 1 positive animal with goat herds more likely to have a positive https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/16/8/1251 . Dairy animals and those over 2 were more likely to be positive as were herds that allowed untested animals to join the herd and those that took part in competitions.

Small ruminant lentiviruses are longstanding viral infections affecting sheep and goats worldwide, resulting in reduced efficiency and economic losses. In Portugal, updated epidemiological data are scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence and risk factors for SRLV in Portugal.....

11/04/2026

What is the best test for CAE ?
This review article gives you a comparison of the different methods https://www.scientific-publications.net/en/article/1001838/ . In Australia we only have the ELISA and PCR tests commercially available. ELISA tests for antibodies but is more accurate than ELISAs for other diseases as once infected with CAE goats are infected for life. PCRs test for sections of the actual CAE virus.

Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis and Maedi-Visna are specific diseases of small ruminants. They are caused by RNA viruses (CAEV and MVV) belonging to the family Retroviridae, gen Lentivirus.