How is Scrapie contracted and what are the signs?
An animals DNA determines if the animal will get Scrapie. The organism is believed to spread from mother to offspring through the placenta and its fluids. The early symptoms are a nervous animal with muscle tremors, wobbly gait, or other nervous conditions such as tremors, head pressing, and stargazing. These symptoms mimic other diseases so diagnosing Scrapie can be difficult. Intense itching and rubbing is more common in sheep than goats. It may take 5 years for symptoms to appear with 1 to 6 months to progress to a point where the animal dies. There is currently no treatment for Scrapie.
