A study on the prevalence and risk factors of bacterial pneumonia in goats

Abstract

Pneumonia is one of the most important respiratory diseases of goats, with bacterial pneumonia contributing substantially to morbidity, mortality, and economic losses in small ruminant farming. The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of bacterial pneumonia in goats in relation to season, sex, age, month, and pregnancy status. A total of 163 goats were examined over a six-month period (June to November 2024) in Vallabhnagar Tehsil, Udaipur District, Rajasthan. Out of these, 40 goats (24.54%) were clinically diagnosed with pneumonia, and 30 cases (18.40%) were confirmed as bacterial pneumonia based on bacterial isolation and identification. Age-wise analysis revealed the highest prevalence in kids aged 0-6 months (45%), followed by 6-12 months (27.5%), 1-2 years (17.5%), and above 2 years (10%). Females were more affected (72.5%) compared to males (27.5%). Month-wise, the maximum prevalence was recorded in November (36.11%), followed by October (31.25%), August (29.63%), July (14.28%), June (13.33%), and September (12.50%). Pregnant goats showed a higher susceptibility (68.96%) compared to non-pregnant goats (31.03%). The results demonstrate that the prevalence of bacterial pneumonia in goats is influenced by season, age, sex, and physiological status. Increased incidence during cooler months, and in young and pregnant animals, emphasizes the need for timely preventive measures, better housing management, and strategic health interventions to reduce the burden of respiratory diseases in goat populations.