In the Netherlands, the dairy goat industry has been eradicating Caseous lymfadenitis (CLA) on a voluntary basis since the 1980s. CLA is an economically important zoonotic disease in small ruminants worldwide, characterised by abscess formation in the peripheral lymph nodes and in the lungs. CLA is caused by the highly resistant bacterium Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Most Dutch dairy goat farms are currently accredited for CLA.

Why participate

• High health status of the goat herd, minimise mortality and production losses.
• In some markets it is compulsory.
• Minimise the risk of a possible zoonotic disease.
• Milk processors can prove product safety to retailers.

What sampling is involved

• Intake: blood samples taken one year after last direct contact with animals from farms with unknown infection status, with a sample size based on 95 percent certainty to detect a prevalence of 0.5 percent.
• After successful intake, annual ELISA sampling with 95 percent certainty to detect a prevalence of 5 percent. This test interferes with vaccination.
• If results are unfavourable, an eradication programme can be initiated based on removal of positive animals.The programme is tailormade to your specific situation

How you get advised

• GD experts interpret the results and provide written advice.
• The necessary measures to be taken differ based on local legislation and legislation relevant to the milk processor. If no additional legislation measures are applicable, we work with the farmer to develop a plan of action.
• If results are favourable, accreditation is provided. 

Our expert

René van den Brom, DVM, PhD, DipECSRHM René van den Brom was born on February 25th 1977 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and grew up in Abcoude, where he visited primary school "Nellestein". In 1989, he started high school at "Hervormd Lyceum Zuid" in Amsterdam, where he passed his VWO-exam. In 1997, he started his study Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University and obtained his degree in veterinary medicine (DVM) in 2004 with merit. During his study he was for one year (1999-2000) president of the Veterinary Students Association (DSK), and for two years (2001-2002) member of the Faculty board. In 2002, he received the "Intervet award", reached out annually at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine to a student who excellently contributed to integration among veterinary students. In 2004, René started as a livestock veterinarian in veterinary practice "Het Westelijk Weidegebied" in Harmelen, which started working together with the veterinary practice of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht, in 2009. In 2008, René started working part-time at Royal GD, Deventer, as veterinarian in small ruminant health. Due to the human Q fever outbreak with a suspected relation to dairy goats, a large portfolio of (veterinary) research started with the aim to obtain additional information on Coxiella burnetii infections in small ruminants, in which René participated from the beginning. Since 2010, René works full-time at GD Animal Health, and from that moment on he started writing scientific papers. His external PhD-program started after publication of his first research paper. In 2013, René qualified as specialist in small ruminant health management, and currently is diplomat of the European College of Small Ruminant Health Management (DipECSRHM). In 2015, René received his PhD-degree on his thesis “Veterinary aspects of a Q fever outbreak in the Netherlands between 2005 and 2012”. He was a member of the scientific board for the International Sheep Veterinary Conference in Harrogate (2017). Since 2017, René is a member of the Credentials Committee of the ECSRHM. In 2020, René became manager of the department for small ruminant, equine, and companion health at Royal GD. Besides, he is working as a veterinary specialist in small ruminant health management with an extra interest in surveillance of small ruminant health and infectious causes of abortion in small ruminants.  Fields of expertise and publications