Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia

Abstract

Lung sickness or contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is a pneumonic transboundary animal disease that specifically affects cattle (Bos taurus, Bos indicus) and occasionally water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is not affected by the disease. CBPP is caused by Mycoplasma mycoides mycoides (Mmm) which phylogenetically belongs to the Mycoplasma cluster or group which are pathogens of ruminants. The acute to subacute disease is characterized by pleuropneumonia and severe pleural effusion, with sequestra formation being a predominant feature in the chronic disease. Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia is one of the major diseases affecting cattle in Africa now that rinderpest has been eradicated from the continent. It is partly responsible for food security deficits in areas where the disease occurs. The most important impact of the disease is the effect on meat and milk production and on crop production whereby oxen are used for traction of farm inputs or products and land preparation (plowing) for food crop production. The control or eradication of the disease continues to suffer. This arises out of lack of financial and human resources to support the control of the disease. The decline in performance of the veterinary services due to many factors has been experienced in many countries in Africa. Lack of a credible livestock compensation policy in affected countries has hindered prompt reporting of the disease in many countries in Africa. Often, this results in farmers attempting to treat affected cattle with antibiotics—mostly tetracyclines. The present epidemiology of CBPP in parts of Africa affected by disease demands that preemptive steps are undertaken to protect countries in Southern Africa free from the disease from being infected, thus affecting the lucrative beef industry in that region and negatively affecting people’s livelihoods in these countries. At present, CBPP control using vaccination (T1/44 and T1/SR) has been carried out in an uncoordinated manner, with the result that the disease is still prevalent in parts of the continent.