2.1 Clinical symptoms and specimen collection
A total of 136 black goats showing clinical signs of possible PRV infection were included in this study. The clinical symptoms in these goats were carefully observed and characterized. Splanchnic (including lymphonodus, lung, kidney, and liver) and brain tissues from the dead goats were collected for pathogenic diagnosis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or reverse transcriptase-coupled polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and virus isolation. Meanwhile, 10 serum and 16 fecal samples from fattening pigs in this farm were collected for the detection of antibodies and pathogens, respectively. Additionally, related information including feeding and housing of these goats was surveyed and documented.