CCPP (Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia) IN GOAT

Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) is a contagious mycoplasmal disease of goats characterized by severe respiratory lesions and high morbidity and mortality.Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, or CCPP, is a highly
contagious respiratory disease of goats, and is considered one of the most severe diseases for this species.
Infected animals become very sick and most will die. The disease is caused by the bacteria Mycoplasma capricolum
subspecies capripneumoniae. Two similar organisms, M. mycoides subsp. capri and M. mycoides subsp. mycoides large-colony type, can cause a disease in small ruminants that resembles CCPP. Although it occurs much less commonly and has somewhat different signs

The causative agent of CCPP  is Mycoplasma  capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (Mccp),  originally known  as the F38  biotype. There are other related  mycoplasmal organisms,  such  as Mycoplasma  mycoides capri and  Mycoplasma  mycoides mycoides Large Colony (LC) type, and these can also cause pleuropneumonia but the pulmonary lesions are usually part of a spectrum of systemic illness and they are not strictly specific for lung.

Transmission  of CCPP  is through  droplet infection,  respiratory secretions from a coughing animal must land in the respiratory tract of a susceptible host. Gathering or housing animals together facilitates spread  of the disease.

Only goats are susceptible to  infection  with  Mccp.  The other two  may also affect goats and sheep.

Morbidity can be 100% and mortality 60­100%. Incubation period is 1­4  weeks.  Weakness,  anorexia,  cough,  hyperpnoea,  and  nasal discharge accompanied  by fever (41°C) are often  found.  Exercise intolerance is common.

Clinical signs

Incubation period 6-10 days but can be up to 4 weeks.

• Pyrexia of 41°C
• Severe respiratory distress
• Cough
• Lethargy, anorexia
• Frothy nasal discharge and stringy saliva may be seen at the end
• High morbidity (up to 80%) and mortality (up to 100%)

Animals usually die within a week

Chronic cases – there is a cough and nasal discharge.

Post Mortem:

• Pleuropneumonia, hepatisation and pleural adhesions
• Pleural straw coloured fluid can be found
• Pea sized yellow nodules can be found

Pathologic findings –

Typically, the thorax contains an excess of straw­colored fluid, and there is acute fibrinous pneumonia,  with  extensive consolidation,  and  overlying fibrinous pleuritis.  All lobes of the lung can  be involved.   Chronic cases may have severe pleural adhesions and multiple abscesses of variable size.

Diagnosis

When an entire group of goats develops high fever, respiratory distress,  and  the postmortem lesions are typical,  a tentative diagnosis of CCPP  can be made.  Laboratory confirmation entails isolation of the causative organism, which is challenging.

Treatment

Whenever possible,  treatment should  be based  on  bacterial culture and  sensitivity,  especially in  herd  outbreaks,  when  valuable animals are involved, or in acute or chronic cases when initial therapeutic attempts have failed.  Commonly recommended  antibiotics are oxytetracycline (15mg/kg) and  tylosin  (10­-20  mg/kg).  Therapy should  continue for at least 24-­48 hr after body temperature has returned to normal. Duration of treatment usually is 4­5 days.

Prevention and control

Inadequate ventilation, crowding, commingling of animals from various farms (feedlot or market situations),  poor nutrition,  failure of passive transfer of antibodies,  transportation  and  other stresses have all been  associated  with  pneumonia outbreaks,  consequently control and prevention  lies with  correction  of the predisposing factors whenever practical.  In Afghanistan many animals, both sheep and goats, are given  an  M.  capri vaccine,  and  this is useful in  preventing outbreaks of mycoplasmal pneumonia. Vaccine should be given before the start of the cold and rainy season.

Control:

Outbreaks can be eradicated with

• quarantines, movement controls, slaughter of infected and exposed animals, and cleaning and disinfection of the premises
• Some countries have included vaccination in their eradication procedures

Some antibiotics, such as tetracycline or tylosin, can be effective if given early

What diseases look similar?

• Peste des petits ruminants also  present in India
• Pasteurellosis
• Reference-On Request