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
