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Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia

Aetiology Epidemiology Diagnosis Prevention and control References

AETIOLOGY

Classification of the causative agent

Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides SC (bovine biotype)

Mycoplasmas are microorganisms deprived of cell walls and are, therefore, a) pleomorphic and b) resistant to antibiotics of the beta-lactamine group, such as penicillin

Growth of the mycoplasma is relatively fastidious and requires special media rich in cholesterol (addition of serum).

There is only one antigenic type

Resistance in the environment and to chemicals

Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (SC) is not resistant in the environment and transmission requires close contact

Temperature:	In saline solution -	susceptible to 45°C/120 min and/or 47°C/2 min
	In lymph -	susceptible to 45°C/240 min and/or 60°C/2 min
It is:	Inactivated by acid and alkaline pH
Susceptible	to ether, mercuric chloride (0.01%), calcium hydroxide, phenol (1%/3 min), and formaldehyde solution (0.5%/30 seconds)
Survival:	Survives well in frozen tissues

EPIDEMIOLOGY

Hosts

Cattle (Bos taurus), zebu (Bos indicus) and water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Wild bovids and camels are resistant

Transmission

Aerial, mostly by direct contact: droplets emitted by coughing animals, saliva, and urine. Transmission up to several kilometres has been suspected under favourable climatic conditions
Transplacental infection can occur
Inapparent carriers are a major source of infection
Cattle movement is important in the spread of the disease

Virulent material

Lungs, pleuropneumonia lymph and possibly brain, liver, kidneys, lymph nodes, uterus, fetus and fetal membranes, and urine

Occurrence

CBPP is widespread in Africa and it is also present in other regions of the world, including southern Europe, the Middle East and parts of Asia. In Africa, its economic importance is particularly high in Sahelian and Sahelo-Sudanese countries

For detailed information on occurrence, see recent issues of World Animal Health and the OIE Bulletin

DIAGNOSIS

Incubation period is 1-3 months (sometimes longer)

During an outbreak of natural disease, only 33% of animals present symptoms (hyperacute or acute forms), 46% are infected but have no symptoms (subclinical forms) and 21% seem to be resistant

Clinical diagnosis

In adults

Moderate fever with respiratory, pulmonary and pleuretic symptoms: polypnoea, characteristic attitude (elbows turned out, arched back, head extended), cough (at first dry, slight, and not fitful, becoming moist)
When the animal gets up or after exercise, breathing becomes laboured and grunting can be heard
At percussion, dull sounds can be noticed in the low areas of the thorax

In calves

Pulmonary tropism is not the general rule, and infected calves present arthritis with swelling of the joints
Co-existence of pulmonary symptoms in adults and arthritis in young animals should alert the clinician to a diagnosis of CBPP

Lesions

Important amount of yellow or turbid exudate in the pleural cavity (up to 30 litres) that coagulates to form large fibrinous clots
Fibrinous pleurisy: thickening and inflammation of the pleura with fibrous deposits
Interlobular oedema, marbled appearance due to hepatisation and consolidation at different stages of evolution usually confined to one lung
Sequestrae with fibrous capsule surrounding grey necrotic tissue in recovered animals

Differential diagnosis

Acute form

East Coast fever
Acute bovine pasteurellosis
Bronchopneumonia and pleuropneumonia resulting from mixed infections

Chronic form

Hydatid cyst
Actinobacillosis and tuberculosis, bovine farcy

Laboratory diagnosis

Procedures

Identification of the agent

Isolation of pathogen and identification by metabolic and growth inhibition tests
MF-dot
Polymerase chain reaction

Serological tests

Complement fixation (prescribed test in the Manual). This test should be used only at herd level and never for individual diagnosis

Competitive ELISA (under validation by International Atomic Energy Agency and several reference laboratories), and haemagglutination
Agglutination test can be used as penside test in active outbreaks at the herd level

Samples

Lung lesions, pleural fluids, lymph nodes, lung tissue exudate - frozen for isolation of the organism
Acute and convalescent sera

PREVENTION AND CONTROL

No efficient treatment. Antibiotic treatment should be prohibited

Sanitary prophylaxis

In disease-free areas: quarantine, serological tests (complement fixation) and slaughtering of all animals of the herd in which positive animals have been found
Control of cattle movements is the most efficient way of limiting the spread of CBPP

Medical prophylaxis

In infected areas: a CBPP vaccine containing T1 strain is widely used
A CBPP-rinderpest combined vaccine is sometimes used

Surveillance

Recommended Standards for Epidemiological Surveillance for Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia were drawn up by an OIE Ad hoc Group on 7-9 June 1993. After revision, these standards were approved by the International Committee during the 63rd General Session

REFERENCES AND OTHER INFORMATION

Reference experts and laboratories
Classified as an OIE List A disease (A060)
Chapter 2.1.6. in the Manual of Standards for Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines.
International Animal Health Code
- Other references - see the Index
World Animal Health and the OIE Bulletin.
Current Animal Health Status (Disease Information)
Recommended standards for epidemiological surveillance systems for Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia.

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Updated: 30/08/2000
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