Nationwide Investigation of Respiratory Problemsin Sheep Lambs and Goat Kids in Greece.

This study, carried out as part of a large countrywide investigation into the sheep and goat industries in Greece, focused on respiratory problems of lambs and kids in Greece. The work was performed as part of a wider study performed in farms throughout the country with the participation of farmers, by means of an in-person questionnaire investigation. The specific objectives of the study were (a) the assessment of the presence of respiratory problems in lambs and kids and (b) the identification of variables associated with the presence of these problems in the farms. Data were collected from 325 sheep flocks and 119 goat herds. The annual incidence rate for respiratory problems in lambs was 1.4% (95% confidence intervals: 1.3-1.4%) and that in kids was 1.1% (1.0-1.2%). The annual incidence rate was significantly lower in farms that applied a semi-extensive or extensive management system (1.2% in sheep and 1.0% in goat farms) than in farms that applied an intensive or semi-intensive or extensive (1.5% and 1.3%, respectively) management system. In multivariable analysis, the lack of a barn for lambs, the proximity (<10 km) of the farm to industrial sites, and the experience of farmers emerged as significant predictors in sheep farms, and the proximity to industrial sites and the administration of antibiotics to newborns routinely emerged as significant predictors in goat farms. Sheep (27.4%) and goat (22.7%) farmers considered 'pneumonia' as the second most important health problem of lambs and kids. Respiratory problems were more often declared an important problem by farmers in proximity to industrial sites: 21.6% versus 12.5%. Overall, the study contributes information regarding the presence of respiratory problems in lambs and kids in Greece. A notable finding has been the association of proximity to industrial sites with a higher incidence rate of respiratory problems of lambs and kids in the farms. This has similarities to the results of relevant studies on people and potentially reflects that air pollution in the farm environment might be a factor to take into account in health management. One may also postulate that, possibly, data from farms can be employed to indicate potential risk from air pollution for humans, although further and more detailed work will be necessary to draw relevant conclusions.