Rinderpest
Aetiology
Epidemiology
Diagnosis
Prevention and Control
References
Classification of the causative agent
Virus family Paramyxoviridae, genus
Morbillivirus
Resistance to physical and chemical action
| Temperature: |
Small amounts of virus resist 56°C/60 min or
60°C/30 min |
| pH: |
Stable between pH 4.0 and 10.0 |
| Chemicals: |
Susceptible to lipid solvents |
| Disinfectants: |
Susceptible to most common disinfectants (phenol, cresol, sodium
hydroxide 2%/24 hours used at a rate of 1 litre/m2) |
| Survival: |
Remains viable for long periods in chilled or frozen
tissues |
- High morbidity rate, mortality rate is high with virulent strains but
variable with mild strains
Hosts
- Cattle, zebus, water buffaloes and many species of wild animals: African
buffaloes, eland, kudu, wilde-beest, various antelopes, bushpigs, warthog,
giraffes, etc.
- Sheep, goats are susceptible
- Asian pigs seem more susceptible than African and European pigs
- Rinderpest is rare among camelidae
No age- or sex-linked predisposition
Transmission
- By direct or close indirect contacts
Sources of virus
- Shedding of virus begins 1-2 days before pyrexia in tears, nasal
secretions, saliva, urine and faeces
- Blood and all tissues are infectious before the appearance of clinical
signs
- Infection is via the epithelium of the upper or lower respiratory tract
- No carrier state
Occurrence
The virus has never established itself in the Americas or
Australia/New Zealand. Its distribution in other parts of the world is
restricted. In Africa it has been eradicated from several countries and
sub-regions, and is normally absent from the northern and southern parts of the
continent. Rinderpest occurs in the Middle East and in southwestern and central
Asia
For detailed information on occurrence, see recent issues of World
Animal Health and the OIE Bulletin
Incubation period is 3-15 days
Clinical diagnosis
Classic form: four stages
- Incubation period
- Febrile period (40-42°C) with depression, anorexia, reduction of
rumination, increase of respiratory and cardiac rate
- Mucous membrane congestion (oral, nasal, ocular and genital tract
mucosae)
- intense mucopurulent lachrymation and abundant salivation
- anorexia - necrosis and erosion of the oral mucosae
- this phase lasts 2-3 days
- Gastrointestinal signs appear when the fever drops: profuse
haemorrhagic diarrhoea containing mucus and necrotic debris. Severe
tenesmus. Dehydration, abdominal pain, abdominal respiration, weakness,
recumbency and death within 8-12 days. In rare cases, clinical signs
regress by day 10 and recovery occurs by day 20-25
|
Peracute form
- No prodromal signs, high fever (>40-42°C), sometimes congested
mucous membranes, and death. This form occurs in highly susceptible
young and newborn animals
|
Subacute form
- Clinical signs limited to one or more of the classic signs. Low
mortality rate
|
Atypical form
- Irregular pyrexia and mild or no diarrheoa. The lymphotropic nature
of rinderpest virus favours recrudescence of latent infections and/or
increased susceptibility to other infectious agents
|
Sheep, goats and pigs
- Variable pyrexia and anorexia
- Inconsistent diarrhoea
|
Pigs
- Pyrexia, prostration, conjunctivitis, erosions of buccal mucosa,
death
|
Lesions
- Either areas of necrosis and erosions, or congestion and haemorrhage in
the mouth, intestines and upper respiratory tracts
- Enlarged and oedematous lymph nodes
- White necrotic foci in Pepyer's patches
- 'Zebra striping' in the large intestine
- Carcass emaciation and dehydration
Differential diagnosis
Cattle
- Foot and mouth disease
- Bovine viral diarrhoea/mucosal disease
- Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis
- Malignant catarrhal fever
- Vesicular stomatitis
- Salmonellosis
- Necrobacillosis
- Paratuberculosis
- Arsenic poisoning
|
Small ruminants
- Peste des petits ruminants
|
Laboratory diagnosis
Procedures
Identification of the agent
Antigen detection
- Agar gel immunodiffusion test
- Direct and indirect immunoperoxidase tests
- Counter immunoelectrophoresis
- Immunohistopathology
|
Virus isolation and identification
- Virus isolation
- Virus neutralisation
- Immunoperoxidase staining
|
in VERO or bovine kidney cell cultures |
Virus RNA detection
- Rinderpest-specific cDNA probes
- Amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
|
Serological tests
- ELISA
- Virus neutralisation
|
(prescribed tests in the Manual) |
Samples
- Sterile whole blood preserved in heparin (10 IU/ml) or EDTA
(0.5 mg/ml) and transferred to laboratory on ice (but not frozen)
- Spleen, prescapular or mesenteric lymph nodes of dead animals
chilled to sub-zero temperatures
- Ocular and nasal secretions of infected animals during either the
prodromal or the erosive phase
|
No treatment
Sanitary prophylaxis
- Isolation or slaughtering of sick and in-contact animals
- Destruction of cadavers
- Disinfection
- Protection of free zones
Medical prophylaxis
- Cell-culture attenuated virus vaccines are highly effective
- The commonly used vaccine is an attenuated strain of rinderpest virus. In
some countries a mixed rinderpest/contagious bovine pleuropneumonia vaccine is
used
- Immunity lasts at least 5 years and is probably life-long. Annual
revaccination is recommended in order to obtain a high percentage of immunised
animals in an area
- Genetically engineered thermostable recombinant vaccines are currently
undergoing limited field trials
Surveillance
An 1989 'OIE Expert Consultation on Rinderpest Surveillance'
resulted in a report entitled Recommended standards for epidemiological
surveillance for rinderpest. This report was approved by the International
Committee during the 58th General Session.
| REFERENCES AND OTHER
INFORMATION |
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Updated:
30/08/2000
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