A friend of mine has, unfortunately, had an outbreak of CL on his homestead.
It’s only affecting one of his goats so far and he’s moved quickly to quarantine that goat, but it’s a real shame that the goat has to be on its own and may die from the infection.
One thing he has been worried about, though, is whether the CL could be transmitted to him.
I wasn’t sure about this either, but it seemed like a natural concern. I decided to look into it.
So, can humans get CL from goats?
Humans can get CL from goats, although reported instances are very rare. As long as you wear PPE while being near or handling a goat that has CL, you should be free from danger. Treatment if you do catch it involves surgery and antibiotics, so do be careful nonetheless.
So, the short answer is yes, it is possible.
However, it’s important to note that it’s extremely rare, and not something you should be overly worried about.
But you should always exercise the utmost caution when dealing with an infected goat, as the treatment for the infection, should you catch it, is extensive.
Let’s look further into this.
Can humans get caseous lymphadenitis?
Yes, they can.
The bottom line is that it’s extremely rare, and with basic safety measures to reduce the risk of transmission, you are very unlikely to catch this infection.
There are a few reasons for this, but the simple fact is that goats tend to be more susceptible to this particular kind of infection.
There are many reasons for this, often complex, veterinary science about the differences between our own bodies and an animal’s.
The important thing is to identify the infection and know it when you see it.
It will manifest as pus-filled abscesses on the skin, as well as weight loss.
If you see these symptoms, separate the goat from the rest of the herd immediately, and don’t handle or go near the goat without protective gear on.
As long as you wear PPE and take effective precautions, you’re very unlikely to catch CL from your goat.
It simply isn’t very transmissible to humans.
That said, you should also be aware of the symptoms.
What does CL in goats do to humans?
The symptoms of CL in humans are much like any bacterial infection.
You are likely to notice a fever, accompanied by severe headaches, chills and muscle aches.
This is much like any bacterial infection, or even like food poisoning.
Depending on the severity of the infection, though, you could notice more and worse symptoms.
For example, you may experience abdominal pain, vomiting, even jaundice—the yellowing of your skin and eyes.
You may get diarrhea, rashes, and, in the most extreme cases, meningitis, liver failure, and even death.
So, though the risk of catching this infection is not very high, the risks associated with catching it are very high.
So, you should always take it very seriously.
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Can goats pass CL to humans?
Yes, they can.
It is typically through skin contact of some kind.
This is why you should always wear not just protective gloves, but to be completely safe, full protective overalls, too.
Any contact with your skin poses a risk of transmitting the infection, so do be aware of that and take the possibility seriously.
It is not an airborne infection, but you may want to wear a mask anyway.
Avoid touching your face while you’re near it, and make sure to thoroughly wash and sanitize your hands after being near the goat.
With these steps in mind, you are extremely unlikely to catch CL.
If you do, though, how is it treated?
How is CL treated in humans?
Because CL is essentially an infection that inflames your lymph glands, the treatment needed to correct it and control the damage it causes is quite invasive and extensive.
You may well need surgery to excise the affected gland—this is usually the main way to manage and contain the infection.
You’ll also be put on a round of antibiotics to kill the infection, too.
Make sure to always finish your round of antibiotics, even if you’re feeling well again before the end of the treatment course.
The big question on veterinarian’s minds, then, is whether we can treat the goats for this.
Can you vaccinate for CL in goats?
Unfortunately, at the moment, there is no real cure or treatment for a goat that becomes infected with CL.
It may well just happen to pull through.
It may be that it just manages, by sheer chance, to beat the infection.
It may not.
There is at the moment no vaccine for CL in goats, or indeed any other animal that is susceptible, like sheep.
There are treatments for humans that catch it, but our own antibiotics are really designed for our own use.
So, no, you cannot vaccinate or even reliably treat goats for CL.
The condition is not one to take lightly, then. It’s a very serious and potentially life-threatening infection if it is passed to you.
Even if not, it presents massive dangers for your goats.
There is really, no known cure for CL in goats today.
There are treatments for the strain as it is passed to humans, but goats are, unfortunately, a different story.
Take this problem very seriously if you have it on your homestead, and see a doctor if you’re concerned you’ve contracted it.