ICVA - International Council for Veterinary Assessment Small Ruminant Herd Health Questions and Answers

Question 1

A goat producer reports several animals in their herd have developed large, thick-walled abscesses around the jaw and shoulder regions.
When one ruptures, it discharges a thick, non-odorous, greenish-yellow pus.
Which of the following is the most likely causative agent?

Accepted Answer

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis

Answer

Trueperella pyogenes

Answer

Staphylococcus aureus

Answer

Pasteurella multocida

Question 2

A sheep flock is experiencing an outbreak of sudden death in the fastest-growing lambs that are approximately 2 months old. The lambs are on a high-concentrate diet. Necropsy of a recently deceased lamb reveals pulpy kidneys. Which preventative measure is most crucial for the remaining lambs and future prevention?

Accepted Answer

Vaccination with a Clostridium perfringens type D toxoid.

Answer

Administration of a broad-spectrum antibiotic to all lambs.

Answer

Immediate deworming of the entire flock for Haemonchus contortus.

Answer

Supplementing the diet with high levels of thiamine.

Question 3

Which of the following is the most effective and practical method for monitoring the level of anemia in individual sheep and goats to make selective deworming decisions against Haemonchus contortus?

Accepted Answer

FAMACHA© system scoring of mucous membrane color.

Answer

Routine fecal egg counts for every animal in the herd.

Answer

Body condition scoring.

Answer

Daily observation for signs of lethargy and weakness.

Question 4

A 4-month-old wether (castrated male goat) presents with straining to urinate, tail flagging, and vocalization. You observe crystals around the preputial opening. Which of the following dietary management strategies is most critical for preventing this condition in a herd of male small ruminants?

Accepted Answer

Maintaining a calcium to phosphorus ratio of at least 2:1.

Answer

Increasing the protein content of the diet to promote growth.

Answer

Supplementing with high levels of magnesium.

Answer

Providing a diet primarily composed of alfalfa hay.

Question 5

A producer brings in a 6-month-old lamb exhibiting neurological signs including blindness, star-gazing (opisthotonos), and ataxia. The lamb was recently moved to a high-grain finishing diet. What is the most likely diagnosis and immediate treatment?

Accepted Answer

Polioencephalomalacia (PEM); parenteral thiamine (Vitamin B1).

Answer

Listeriosis; high doses of penicillin.

Answer

Scrapie; no treatment, reportable disease.

Answer

Tetanus; tetanus antitoxin and wound debridement.

Question 6

To comply with the National Scrapie Eradication Program in the United States, which of the following is a primary requirement for the official identification of most sheep and goats involved in interstate commerce?

Accepted Answer

An official USDA-approved ear tag with a flock identification number.

Answer

A farm-specific ear notch pattern registered with the state.

Answer

A color-coded neck chain for each animal.

Answer

A detailed description of the animal's markings in a logbook.

A goat producer reports several animals in their herd have developed large, thick-walled abscesses around the jaw and shoulder regions.When one ruptures, it discharges a thick, non-odorous, greenish-yellow pus.Which of the following is the most likely causative agent?

A goat producer reports several animals in their herd have developed large, thick-walled abscesses around the jaw and shoulder regions.
When one ruptures, it discharges a thick, non-odorous, greenish-yellow pus.
Which of the following is the most likely causative agent?