Archive Case #207: Caprine Listeriosis

Clinical Clues

1. Nettle, an adult doe, stands apart from the herd and lets feed fall from one side of her mouth.
2. She becomes dull, tilts her head and circles repeatedly to the same side.
3. Neurological examination finds a drooping ear, weak facial movement and impaired chewing on the affected side.
4. The herd has recently received poorly preserved silage. Nettle is febrile and has difficulty swallowing.
5. The asymmetric cranial-nerve deficits localise to the brainstem; cerebrospinal fluid contains increased protein and inflammatory cells.
6. A reference laboratory identifies Listeria monocytogenes by PCR in the cerebrospinal fluid, confirming the cause of the neurological illness.

Diagnosis

Caprine Listeriosis

The brainstem pattern makes neurological listeriosis a strong possibility; detecting the organism supplies the decisive evidence. Spoiled feed is relevant history, not proof. Ear disease or another brainstem lesion can produce overlapping signs. Remember: Localise the neurological problem first. Circling alone does not identify its cause.

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.