Gross and Histopathology of Goats Feeding on Opuntia stricta in Laikipia County, Kenya

Table 1

Criteria used to score external and internal lesions of goats feeding on Opuntia stricta in Laikipia North sub-County.

Lesions	Classification
1 a) Dermatitis, otitis externa, eye problems, cheilitis, stomatitis, glossitis, and abomasitis due to 1–100 O. stricta thorns and spine attachments; b) Small swellings at the O. stricta thorns and spine attachment sites without wounds on the skin, ears, eyes, lips, oral mucosa, tongue, and abomasum	Mild
2 a) Dermatitis, otitis externa, eye problems, cheilitis, stomatitis, glossitis, and abomasitis due to 100–200 O. stricta thorns and spine attachments; b) Small reddened wounds measuring between 0.1 and 0.4 cm in diameter at the site of attachment by O. stricta on respective organ parts; c) Abomasitis showing partially swollen glandular mucosa where thorns and spines are attached to abomasal folds	Acute
3 a) Dermatitis, otitis externa, eye problems, cheilitis, stomatitis, glossitis, and abomasitis due to numerous (over 200) O. stricta thorns and spine attachments; b) Fresh wounds on the skins, lips, and oral mucosa measuring 0.5 cm or more in diameter; c) Abomasitis with conspicuous thick mucosa folds and numerous swellings with haemorrhages where O. stricta thorns and spines are attached	Subacute
4 a) Dermatitis, otitis externa, eye problems, cheilitis, stomatitis, glossitis, and abomasitis due to uncountable O. stricta thorns and spines attachments; b) Septic extensive ulcers measuring more than 0.5 cm in diameter on the skin, lips, and oral mucosa (some covering almost half of the affected lips and oral mucosa); c) Abomasitis with swollen glands and abscesses	Chronic