Jaagsiekte is a lung disease that affects sheep and goats. The word is derived from Afrikaans, the language spoken in South Africa. The IPA phonetic transcription of Jaagsiekte is /jɑːχsiːktə/. The "j" in the beginning is pronounced as "y" in the word "yes". The "aa" is pronounced as a long vowel "a" sound and the "ie" is a diphthong that sounds like "ee" in "meet". The "siekte" sounds like "seektuh", with the final "e" being silent. Proper pronunciation of Jaagsiekte is important for veterinarians and farmers dealing with the disease.
Jaagsiekte is a respiratory disease that affects sheep and goats, primarily characterized by the development of lung tumors. This infectious viral disease is caused by the Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV), a member of the Retroviridae family. Jaagsiekte is often referred to as ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) due to its association with the formation of adenocarcinomas in the lungs.
The disease primarily spreads through the inhalation of respiratory secretions containing the JSRV virus, which then infects the cells of the respiratory system. Infected animals may initially show mild symptoms like coughing, sneezing, and nasal discharge, but the disease gradually progresses to cause severe respiratory distress, weight loss, and ultimately leads to death. The lung tumors that develop hamper the lung's normal functions, causing breathing difficulties and reducing the efficiency of oxygen exchange.
Jaagsiekte is most prevalent in sheep and goats between the ages of two to five years old. The disease is predominantly found in certain regions of the world, such as North America, Europe, Australia, and Africa, where it can cause significant economic losses due to the decreased productivity of affected animals.
Controlling the spread of Jaagsiekte involves the implementation of strict biosecurity measures, culling of infected animals, and vaccination programs, although the effectiveness of the vaccine remains limited. Proper quarantine procedures, maintaining clean environments, and avoiding contact with infected animals are essential for preventing the transmission of the disease. Research efforts continue to focus on finding more effective control measures and antiviral treatments to combat this significant respiratory disease in sheep and goats.
The word Jaagsiekte has Afrikaans origins and is a compound word formed by combining jaag meaning to chase and siekte meaning disease in Afrikaans. In translation, Jaagsiekte means chasing disease or chase-sickness.