Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia in Ethiopia (Review Article)

Abstract

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia is a disease of cattle caused by Mycoplasma mycoidessubsp. mycoidessmall colonies. The disease is characterized by a relatively long incubation period and a highly variable clinical course. Recovered animals may harbour the infection in lung sequestra: necrotic areas of lung tissue separated from the surrounding normal tissue by a fibrous capsule. Contagious bovine Pleuropneumonia is current disease of major concern throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The principal route of infection is by the inhalation of infective droplets from animals active or carrier cases of the disease. An essential part of the pathogenesis of the disease is thrombosis in the pulmonary vessels, probably prior to the development of pneumonic lesions. It is manifested by anorexia, fever and respiratory signs such as dyspnoea, polypnoea, cough and nasal discharges. Diagnosis depends on the isolation of an etiological agent. The common methods used for the diagnosis of the disease are complement fixation test and enzyme linked immune sorbent assays. It is considered to be a disease of economic importance. The disease is endemic in Ethiopia. The major control method practiced in Ethiopia is vaccination. The main problems for control or eradication are the uncontrolled movements of animals and the frequent occurrence of sub-acute or subclinical infections and the persistence of chronic carriers after the clinical phase. Therefore, adequate control strategic measures should be implemented for eradication of the disease such as test and slaughter, stamping out, quarantine and vaccination.