Leptospirosis is a contagious, zoonotic disease, caused by Leptospira interrogans. Most infections in goats are subclinical, however outbreaks of acute septicemia with hemolytic jaundice and epizootics of abortion have occurred. Leptospirosis is of major importance to goats in Iran and Israel, which is where outbreaks with high morbidity and mortality rates have occurred in goats.
Goats are more likely exposed to L. interrogans from wild rodents or other infected livestock shedding the organism in urine, and is not itself considered a persistent reservoir of infection. It is generally transmitted by contact with standing water, such as a lake or pond that has been contaminated with feces or urine from infected animals.