title: Risk factors for calcium carbonate urolithiasis in goats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify demographic or signalment factors associated with calcium carbonate urolith formation in goats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series and case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  354 goats with calcium carbonate uroliths (case animals) and 16,366 goats without urinary tract disease (control animals).
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of the Minnesota Urolith Center were reviewed to identify case goats for which samples were submitted between January 1, 1984, and December 31, 2012. Control goats evaluated at US veterinary teaching hospitals in the same time period were identified by searching Veterinary Medical Database records. Age, breed, sex, reproductive status, geographic location, season, and anatomic location of collected uroliths were analyzed to identify risk or protective factors associated with calcium carbonate urolithiasis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nigerian dwarf goats had higher odds of developing calcium carbonate uroliths than did Pygmy goats (reference group). Several breeds had lower odds of this finding, compared with Pygmy goats; odds were lowest for mixed, Anglo-Nubian, and Toggenburg breeds. Breeds of African origin (Pygmy, Nigerian Dwarf, and Boer) comprised 146 of 275 (53%) case goats with data available. Goats of African descent had a higher risk of developing calcium carbonate uroliths than did goats of non-African descent (reference group). Males and neutered goats had higher odds of calcium carbonate urolithiasis, compared with females and sexually intact goats, respectively. Age category, geographic location, and season were associated with detection of calcium carbonate uroliths.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Goats with calcium carbonate uroliths were typically neutered males, > 1 year of age, and of African descent. This study identified factors associated with calcium carbonate urolithiasis in goats; however, these associations do not allow conclusions regarding cause-and-effect relationships.
authors.forename: Eugene E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Nwaokorie
authors.forename: Carl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.forename: Jody P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lulich
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Fletcher
authors.forename: Lisa K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Ulrich
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Koehler
authors.forename: Michelle T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Buettner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002119:Calcium Carbonate; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D006041:Goats; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D052878:Urolithiasis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D002119:Calcium Carbonate