First Report of a Sudden Death Syndrome in Boer Goats Associated with FMD and Clostridium perfringens Co-infection.

In December 2021, an outbreak of sudden death occurred among Boer kids on a commercial farm housing 200 adult goats and 30 kids. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the underlying cause and the associated hematobiochemical alterations. The medical history indicated that 17 newborn kids succumbed shortly after exhibiting signs of apathy, while the adults remained clinically healthy. An outbreak of Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) occurred concurrently on nearby cattle farms that prompt collection of buccal and nasal swabs from the affected kids to detect the FMD virus (FMDV) via RT-PCR. A comprehensive VP1 sequencing was performed to characterize the circulating FMDV. Blood samples were obtained from the survived kids to evaluate hematobiochemical changes. Post-mortem examinations were conducted on eight carcasses, and swabs of internal organs and intestinal contents were collected for bacteriological analysis and histopathological examination on tissue samples. The presence of the FMDV type O was confirmed exhibiting significant mutations in the G-H loop. Phylogenetic analysis revealed it`s relatedness to the Egyptian 2021 strain. C. perfringens was confirmed through DNA sequencing. Intravascular hemolysis was detected indicative of CPA toxins. This study underscores the role of clostridial infection as a complication of FMD in Boer kids. This is the first report of co-infection of Boer goats with C. perfringens and FMD. These findings could enhance our understanding of the clinical presentation of complicated FMD infection cases in Boer goats under natural conditions and highlight the importance of including small ruminants in the vaccination program against FMD in Egypt.