Abstract
An observational study on the effects of oxytetracycline treatment on contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in a naturally infected herd of 500 cattle was conducted. A total of 68 cattle that showed pneumonia-like clinical signs were treated. Treatment was effected the moment an animal showed signs of illness. A total of 429 cattle were slaughtered after diagnosis of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia and at slaughter, 40.8% (175) had lesions compared to 59.2% (254) that did not have lesions. Out of the total cattle that were treated with oxytetracycline, 57.4% (39) died from contagious bovine pleuropneumonia over a period of 9 weeks while 42.6% (29) survived. Of the treatment group that survived, 37.9% (11) had fibrous lesions indicative of healing, while 62.1% (18) had pathological lesions consistent of active contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP). Categorisation of carcases with pathological lesions within the treatment group showed 66.7% (12) and 33.3% (6) of acute and chronic lesions, respectively. The CBPP causative agent was isolated through culture and confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results obtained suggest that oxytetracycline did not stop the spread or death of cattle in this particular herd with the treatment of a proportion of the herd. However, large scale field trials are needed in order to validate these findings. It is therefore recommended that any antibiotic that will be developed and advocated for use in the treatment of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia should be effective to contain spread within the herd by treating only a proportion showing signs of the disease. Key words: Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia, antibiotics, lung, lesions, oxytetracyline, treatmen, Zambia.
Highlights
Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is a highly infectious disease of cattle caused by a mollicute bacteria Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides (Mmm) and is characterised by severe fibrinous exudative pneumonia (OIE, 2010; Provost et al, 1987)
When the carcasses with lesions and those showing signs of recovery were compared in the treated group, it was found that 37.9% (n=11) had lesions in the lungs showing signs of recovery, while 62.1% (n=18) had classical lesions of clinical CBPP
This study has demonstrated the failure of oxytetracycline therapy in abetting clinical CBPP in a naturally infected herd where only cattle with clinical signs were treated
Summary
Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) is a highly infectious disease of cattle caused by a mollicute bacteria Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides (Mmm) and is characterised by severe fibrinous exudative pneumonia (OIE, 2010; Provost et al, 1987). CBPP has been successfully controlled in most developed countries (Scacchia et al, 2011), it has continued to spread and affect new areas in sub-Saharan Africa. The main control method that has been adopted by most countries in sub-Saharan Africa is vaccination using an attenuated live T1/44 vaccine strain. The vaccine confers a short immunity requiring booster vaccinations annually and can revert to pathogenicity at the injection site that can cause death if not treated with antibiotics (Thiaucourt et al, 2007)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
