CAE testing

[Ironmonkey]

Which CAE test is the better choice? There are a couple of options but I'm wanting the most sensitive (specificity is less important to me at this stage of the game).

I have two nubian does I bought a while back as horse friends that are from questionable lineage. I'd like to breed them for home-use but I'm morally opposed to potentially passing on such a horrid disease. I know I COULD heat treat and bottle feed if needed but for personal use I don't know if I shouldn't just cut bait and start again. I do have a brand new Nubian doeling from a much more reputable source. I'll test her too but she came from a CA free herd (I've seen the certificates of her sire and dam) and was bottle fed to boot. She'll be the genetic base for my market herd (along with a few other does to be acquired soon).
I'm close to UC-Davis and this is what they offer:

http://dmz-apps.cahfs.ucdavis.edu/TestFees.aspx

I don't care about cost. Just want the right test.

Thanks in advance

-Jordan

 

[babsbag]

I too am from N. CA and I and everyone I know (including my vet) around here sends the test into CAFHS (UC Davis) for CAE, CL, and just about everything else. We do a blood draw and the results come back in a few days. It doesn't cost much for that test and I test for CAE and CL yearly. I am not sure what the CAE test with the paraffin block is but that is not the one we have done.

I also can't tell you about the most sensitive test, but if you were to call CAHFS I am sure they would be more than happy to talk to you and answer any questions.

Here's hoping for a negative test.

 

[Ironmonkey]

babsbag:

I'm just down the road in Gridley. Good to know someone close-ish.

 

[babsbag]

Did you come to the goat education day in Red Bluff this last weekend? I think we had over 300 people in attendance with 60 different goat related classes to choose from. It was a pretty awesome day.

 

[Ironmonkey]

I was there. That's what got my sudden insurgence of questions sparked. Realized that I was doing a few things wrong and needed to make changes. I could have used an all day CAE management class. Its a pretty in-depth disease. I also need to find a vet near me. I talked to Dr. Flournoy but it's too much of a drive for her and her client list is full.

 

[Caprice_Acres]

CAE ELISA is very accurate in showing disease status. In adult animals, not a real risk of false positives/negatives. You'll get false positive test results in about 4 out of 1000 tests, is what WADDL reports for the ELISA. pretty darn good. You can retest any positives with a PCR test to confirm, which will be looking precisely for CAE virus DNA. No false postiives there. It's more expensive and has the same issues with negatives as does the other test (recently exposed negatives are not *true* negatives, just haven't built up virus numbers or antibodies yet to cause it to be 'positive'.) Personally, I think retesting with an ELISA is accurate enough - the probability of getting two false positives in a row is infinitesimal.

NO ONE DISEASE TEST IS EVER EVER EVER INDICITAVE OF HERD STATUS! It is interpretative data used to evaluate herd health. A TOOL only. I cannot say this enough. This is NOT necessarily due to the tests' accuracy, but more to do with how the immune response and infection works in living animals. To claim 'negative' status, one should have at least 3 negative test results on every animal on site, taken with some period in between tests. Usually recommended to test every 6 months for the first year, then once per year afterwords unless you close your herd. The reliability of test results increases with sucessive testing results simply due to probability.

WADDL and Biotracking are known for reliable ELISAs. DCPAH too, but they're pricier (Biotracking only charges 4.00 for a CAE ELISA! )

WADDL's information page on CAE and testing options: http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts_waddl/caefaq.aspx

 

[babsbag]

I was there. That's what got my sudden insurgence of questions sparked. Realized that I was doing a few things wrong and needed to make changes. I could have used an all day CAE management class. Its a pretty in-depth disease. I also need to find a vet near me. I talked to Dr. Flournoy but it's too much of a drive for her and her client list is full.

My only regret about the day is that I am so busy teaching classes, running errands, and do committee stuff that I have no time to attend the classes. I am fortunate that Dr. Flournoy is my vet and my friend and we are both members of the North Valley Dairy Goat Assoc. Having a good vet is vital.

Did you ask her is she knew anybody out where you live? I have a friend that belongs to the No. CA Meat Goat Assoc. and knows goat people all over this area; I could ask her if you would like me to.

I am glad you came to GED. I too started with goats from questionable herds, not knowing any better. Fortunately I got lucky. I hope your goats test negative.

 

[Ironmonkey]

Did you ask her is she knew anybody out where you live? I have a friend that belongs to the No. CA Meat Goat Assoc. and knows goat people all over this area; I could ask her if you would like me to.

I did. The only person she knew of was Country Vet. They do a lot of large animals and will help w/ goats but nobody there makes any claims of being an expert. I'll keep asking around. There's a Boer breeder in Live Oak that's bound to know someone, from what I hear they're a largish operation.

-J

 

[babsbag]

Try Blevins Boer Goats. I know they are out towards you and the owners are wonderful people; I am sure they would tell you who they use for their vet.