Haemogram abnormalities included neutropenia (2769 cells/µl) and monocytosis (756 cells/µl). All other measured parameters were within reference ranges. Analysis of the faeces suggested a mild lung worm (Dictyocaulus filaria) infestation. Treatment consisted of antimicrobials, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anthelmintics, vitamins and trace elements. In the days following treatment, the goat was eating well, rectal temperature was normal and a slight improvement of the respiratory disease was observed. Seventeen days after admission, the goat developed signs of acute pneumonia characterised by lethargy, anorexia, dyspnea, mild mucopurulent nasal discharge and fever. On auscultation, bronchial lung sounds and moist rales were heard over the cranioventral part of the thorax and, on percussion, resonance in these parts of the chest was decreased. The goat showed difficulty in rising and a stiff gait. Based on clinical signs, pneumonia, presumably caused by bacteria, was diagnosed. Therapy included antibiotics, NSAIDs, vitamins and a 5 per cent glucose infusion to prevent hypoglycaemia. The animal was found dead 36 hours later.At postmortem examination, the carcase was in poor condition. Macroscopically, severe fibrinopurulent pneumonia, obvious nephromegaly, mild hepatomegaly and splenomegaly, moderate catarrhal abomasoenteritis, and enlargement of both popliteal and mesenteric lymph nodes were found. Selected, routinely formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue samples were cut and stained with haematoxylin and eosin and examined using light microscopy. Histologically, a moderate alveolar histiocytosis was detectable in the lung. The kidneys showed severe interstitial nephritis, a mild purulent removal nephritis and moderate fibrosis around the capsula glomerularis. With the exception of a moderate lymphoplasmocytic infiltration of the abomasointestinal mucosa, no noticeable microscopic lesions were found in the alimentary system. Other findings were moderate lymphatic hyperplasia in the lymph nodes, mild focal lymphocytic myositis in the skeletal muscles, moderate lymphocytic infiltration of the epineurium in randomly truncated neurofibres, slight focal lymphocytic infiltration of the cerebral leptomeninx, and moderate perivascular haemorrhages in the neuropil. Bacteriological examination of the lung sample gave a negative result. A non-cytopathogenic pestivirus was isolated from tissue samples (lung, liver, spleen, kidneys, brain and intestine) in Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells. From homogenised organ samples and the supernatant of inoculated cell cultures, pestivirus-specific RNA was amplified (Vilcek and others 1994) and typed as BVDV-1h (Fig 2) subtype by further analysis of the N pro region (Vilcek and others 1994). Moreover, Flavivirus-like particles were identified in intestinal contents by electron microscopy.
