On-farm diagnosis of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in nomadic herds using latex agglutination test (LAT)

Abstract

Three outbreaks of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in Kafur Local Government Area of Katsina State, involving a total of 250 animals were reported. All the animals were examined thoroughly and based on the clinical signs exhibited, 120 (group A, n= 51, B, n=29 and C, n=40) animals were selected for latex agglutination test (LAT), using serum from each of the animal. The results indicate infection rates of 11.8% (6/51) in adult animals and 19.6% (10/51) in calves in farm A, while in farm B the infection rate were 27.6% (6/29) for the adult animals and 13.8% (4/29) for calves. While in farm C, 15.0% (6/40) of the adult animals and 17.5% (7/40) of the calves are positive, as demonstrated by strong (+++) agglutination in cell 1 (Plate 2). Overall infection rate of 16.7 and 17.5% was observed for adult and calves respectively. Although this diagnostic test LAT is not new, this is the first time it’s being conducted in the area of study for the diagnosis of CBPP. Key words: Mycoplasma mycoides sub sp. Mycoides, nomadic cattle, latex agglutination test.