Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia Research Articles

Sero- Epidemiological Survey on Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in the Pastural Area of Borana Zone, South West Oromia, Ethiopia

Contagious caprine pleuro-pneumonia, or CCPP, is a highly contagious respiratory disease of goats that is considered one of the most severe diseases for this species. Infected animals become very sick, and most will die. The bacteria Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capripneumoniae causes the disease. A cross-sectional study was conducted in four districts (Yabello, Elwaye, Dubuluk, and Moyale) between September 2022 and November 2023 G. C. The goal was likely to be to assess the prevalence and distribution of CCPP in this important livestock-rearing region. Sero-epidemiological surveys involve testing blood samples using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (cELISA) to detect the presence of antibodies against Mycoplasma capricolum, subsp. Capripneumoniae, which indicates prior exposure and infection. Goats that are infected usually show signs including a high fever, coughing, dyspnea, and nasal discharge. The most popular techniques for diagnosis are bacterial isolation from clinical samples, such as lung tissues or nasal swabs, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, and the serological method. A multi-phase random sampling technique was employed, and 1007 samples from non-immunized goats were collected. The overall seroprevalence of CCPP was 39% (393/1007) at the individual animal levels. A multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that there was no significant correlation between sero-positivity by age category or sex, with odd ratios of OR (95% CI) 0.6 (0.6–9) and 1.3 (.7–2.3), respectively. This type of survey can provide insights into the overall disease burden and dynamics within a population. A study of this nature in the Borana pastoral area would be valuable for understanding the CCPP situation and informing disease control efforts in that region. Pastoralist communities heavily dependent on goat production would be greatly impacted by outbreaks of this economically-important livestock disease. The disease can be effectively reduced by a variety of control methods, including immunization, restricted movement, quarantine, and culling of sick animals.

Co-occurrence of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia and pasteurellosis in goats of sub-Saharan region: systematic review.

The reported incidences of co-participation of Mycoplasma capricolum capripneumoniae (Mccp) and Pasteurella multocida in increased severity and pathogenesis of goats with Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in sub-Saharan Africa elicited the study's purpose. Using the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) guideline, two search engines, namely Google Scholar and PubMed, were queried to systematically review all the available literature on the current epidemiological status of CCPP and Pneumonic Pasteurellosis co-concurrently detected in goats and assess the available treatment and control measures and their challenges in the Sub-Saharan region. The search was limited to papers published between 1998 and 2024, whereby only peer-reviewed English articles were included in the study. Review papers, papers displaying abstracts only, duplicated information, papers beyond the sub-Saharan Africa region and papers published in other languages were excluded from the study. Only articles with full text and focused on goats were included for further screening process and review. A total of 3311 articles were retrieved from both databases, whereas only 58 articles met the inclusion criteria and hence were included in the data analysis. Only eight countries namely, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Sudan, Eritrea, Zambia and Tanzania reported the occurrence of CCPP and or Pasteurellosis: Ethiopia 23/58(39%), Tanzania 18/58 (31%), 1/58(2%) Nigeria, 1/58(2%) Zambia, 1/58(2%) Eritrea, Uganda 2/58 (3%), 2/58(3%) Sudan and Kenya 10/58(16%). Only 5/58 (9%) reported the occurrence of pneumonic pasteurellosis in Nigeria and Ethiopia. Only Tanzania (75%) and Ethiopia (33%) reported Mccp and Pasteurella multocida co-isolation and/ or detection in CCPP cases. Information on the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Mccp and Pasteurella multocida from Sub-Saharan Africa was unavailable. One vaccine against CCPP, namely F-38 inactivated, and one vaccine against pneumonic pasteurellosis were identified to be developed and used in Sub-Saharan Africa. Developing bivalent candidate vaccines for both etiological agents is highly recommended.

Spatial distribution and clustering of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia in goats of Amhara region, Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study with a multistage cluster sampling technique was undertaken from January to July 2019 in Amhara region to identify spatial clusters and distributions of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) hotspots. In the study, a total of 2080 goats from 258 flocks across 60 villages in 12 districts were tested for CCPP serostatus using Competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (C-ELISA). Villages were taken as an aggregate unit to detect spatial distribution and clustering. Spatial autocorrelation, interpolation, and spatial scan statistics analyses were employed to analyze the spatial patterns and clusters of CCPP serostatus. The overall seroprevalence of CCPP at the animal level was 5.1 % (95 % CI: 3.8–6.6). The spatial distribution of CCPP seropositivity was non-random at the village level (Moran's I: 0.400791, P-value <0.01). Two statistically significant spatial clusters of CCPP seropositive were found: one in West Gojjam and the other encompassing parts of North Wollo, Oromiya Liyu zone, and South Wollo zones. The CCPP seropositivity showed spatial variation across the Amhara region. High CCPP seropositive spots were found in the southwestern and northeastern parts of the Amhara region. Generally, the findings of this study provide valuable insights in developing disease control strategies, prioritizing target intervention areas and measures, and designating CCPP disease-free zones. Applying movement restrictions and vaccinating goats will be important intervention measures to prevent and control CCPP in the region.

Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia in selected districts of South Wollo Zone Northeast Ethiopia

Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) is a severe and devastating respiratory disease of goats, which is characterized by severe serofibrinous pleuropneumonia accompanied by high morbidity and mortality. A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2022 to January 2023 to determine the seroprevalence of CCPP and identify risk factors associated with the occurrence of CCPP in goats in five selected districts of the South Wollo Zone of the Eastern Amhara region. A total of 384 sera samples were collected from goats and examined for antibodies specific to Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capripneumoniae (Mccp) using Competitive Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (cELISA) test. Out of the total examined sera, 26 samples were positive for CCPP, giving an overall seroprevalence of 6.7% (95% CI = 6.64–9.77). A seroprevalence of 5.05%, 4.65%, 2.78%, 12.90%, and 10.77% were recorded in Ambasel, Tehuledere, Kalu, Dessie Zuria and Kutaber districts, respectively. However, there was no statistically significant difference among these five districts (p > 0.05). The seroprevalence of CCPP varies significantly between age groups and agroecology (p < 0.05). However, the seroprevalence did not vary with sex, body condition score (BCS), and flock size (p > 0.05). Old-aged goats (OR = 4.10) and goats found in the lowlands (OR = 5.09) were at higher risk of infection with CCPP than young-aged goats and goats found in the highlands, respectively. In conclusion, the present seroprevalence investigation indicated the occurrence of CCPP in those selected study districts of the South Wollo Zone. Therefore, appropriate control measures, including avoiding the mixing of flocks and vaccination should be designed and implemented especially in the lowland areas and older goats to reduce the further spread and magnitude of the disease.

Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia in Selected Districts of Borana Pastoral Area, Southern Oromia, Ethiopia

Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia in Selected Districts of Borana Pastoral Area, Southern Oromia, Ethiopia

The Development and Evaluation of a New Inactivated Vaccine against Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum.

Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum (Mcc) and Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (Mccp) are pathogens that affect large and small ruminants. Indeed, Mcc affects both sheep and goats, causing contagious agalactia (CA). Mccp affects only goats, causing contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP). CA and CCPP are mainly controlled using inactivated Mcc and Mccp vaccines. However, producing the vaccine with the Mccp strain is complex, fastidious, and costly due to the slow growth of the bacterium. In this study, we present new oil-adjuvanted and inactivated Mcc and Mccp vaccines for sheep and goats against CA and CCPP. The vaccines were evaluated for safety and efficacy using experimental infection. A serological response was observed one week after of the first vaccination of sheep and goats with Mcc and goats with Mccp. The vaccinated animals were subsequently challenged with the virulent Mcc MOR20 strain. The Mcc vaccine was demonstrated to provide robust protection when the animals were challenged with Mcc MOR20. Cross-protection against the Mcc MOR20 challenge was also obtained with the Mccp vaccine. This finding revealed, for the first time, the safety and efficacy of an inactivated Mcc vaccine against contagious agalactia and cross-protection between Mcc and Mccp strains.

IMPROVING MCCP VACCINE IN SHEEP: NOVEL STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPMENT, EFFICACY AND CROSS-PROTECTION

Vaccination serves as a straightforward and efficient method for preventing numerous infectious diseases in animals. One such disease is contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP), a severe lung ailment affecting small ruminants. This research aimed to create a vaccine utilizing Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (Mccp) isolated from KPK, Pakistan. The local Mccp strain was rendered inactive alongside saponin, a substance, to produce the vaccine. The viable count of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capripneumoniae (Mccp) was determined to be 1x108 CFU/mL from the stock culture, with an estimated protein content of 0.2g/ml. The developed vaccine underwent testing and comparison with a standard CCPP vaccine in sheep to assess safety and efficacy. Twelve experimental sheep were divided into three groups: A, B, and C. Group A received the new vaccine, group B received the standard vaccine, and group C acted as the control. Groups A and B were further split into two subsets: one remained healthy while the other fell ill. The sheep were closely monitored for any changes over a 75-day post-vaccination period. Blood samples were analyzed for antibodies, showing average antibody GMT titers of 24.3, 84.4, and 128 on days 21, 28, and 35 post-immunization. By day 35, sheep vaccinated with the new vaccine displayed the highest antibody levels. The quadratic relationship (R2) indicated that both saponized and lyophilized vaccines were influenced by the number of days by 57.4% and 55%, respectively. The new vaccine demonstrated superior efficacy in sheep compared to the standard vaccine, with saponin playing a role in its effectiveness. The study successfully deactivated Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capripneumoniae cells with autoclaved saponin, ensuring a sterile vaccine. In vivo testing in rabbits confirmed the vaccine's safety, while serum analysis in sheep revealed protective antibody responses, with the saponized vaccine eliciting higher titers than the lyophilized version. These findings suggest the potential efficacy of the saponized vaccine against Mccp infection

A molecular epidemiological investigation of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia in goats and captive Arabian sand gazelle (Gazella marica) in Oman

BackgroundContagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) is a fatal WOAH-listed, respiratory disease in small ruminants with goats as primary hosts that is caused by Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capripneumoniae (Mccp). Twelve CCPP outbreaks were investigated in 11 goat herds and a herd of captive Arabian sand gazelle (Gazella marica) in four Omani governorates by clinical pathological and molecular analysis to compare disease manifestation and Mccp genetic profiles in goats and wild ungulates.ResultsThe CCPP forms in diseased and necropsied goats varied from peracute (5.8%), acute (79.2%) and chronic (4.5%) while all of the five necropsied gazelles showed the acute form based on the clinical picture, gross and histopathological evaluation. Colonies of Mccp were recovered from cultured pleural fluid, but not from lung tissue samples of one gazelle and nine goats and all the isolates were confirmed by Mccp-specific real time PCR. Whole genome-single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis was performed on the ten isolates sequenced in this study and twenty sequences retrieved from the Genbank database. The Mccp strains from Oman clustered all in phylogroup A together with strains from East Africa and one strain from Qatar. A low variability of around 125 SNPs was seen in the investigated Omani isolates from both goats and gazelles indicating mutual transmission of the pathogen between wildlife and goats.ConclusionRecent outbreaks of CCPP in Northern Oman are caused by Mccp strains of the East African Phylogroup A which can infect goats and captive gazelles likewise. Therefore, wild and captive ungulates should be considered as reservoirs and included in CCPP surveillance measures.

Socio-Economic Impacts of Endemic and Epidemic Diseases on Livestock Production Systems in Tanzania

Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine socio-economic impacts of endemic and epidemic diseases on livestock production systems in Tanzania. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study revealed that endemic diseases such as brucellosis, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), and contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) pose ongoing challenges to livestock health, productivity, and household livelihoods. Epidemic diseases like avian influenza and peste des petits ruminants (PPR) can cause sudden outbreaks, leading to acute disruptions in production and trade. These disease outbreaks result in various socio-economic consequences, including decreased livestock productivity, loss of income for farmers, increased veterinary and containment costs, and disruptions in domestic and international trade. Additionally, diseases can exacerbate poverty and food insecurity among rural communities reliant on livestock for sustenance and income generation. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Economic theory of disease control &amp; social-ecological systems theory may be used to anchor future studies on socio-economic impacts of endemic and epidemic diseases on livestock production systems in Tanzania. Building technical capacity at the grassroots level empowers communities to implement effective disease management strategies and adopt biosecurity measures. Establishing community-based disease surveillance systems that empower local communities to monitor and report disease outbreaks in livestock populations. Providing financial support and risk-sharing mechanisms mitigate economic losses and encourage proactive disease management practices. Establish data-sharing mechanisms and surveillance networks that facilitate real-time exchange of information on disease outbreaks, epidemiological trends, and economic impacts.

Development and validation of an indirect ELISA for the serodiagnosis of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia in goats

Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (Mccp) is a dreadful pathogen of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP). Mccp local strains have recently been isolated from naturally infected goats in northern areas of Pakistan. In this study, we established an in-house indirect ELISA (iELISA) based on whole-cell proteins (WCP) of local Mccp strains for the detection of anti-Mccp antibodies. Serum samples from naturally (n=500) and experimentally infected (n=20) and non-infected animals (n=100) were used for the establishment of iELISA. The specificity and sensitivity of the iELISA were determined using a commercially available competitive ELISA (cELISA) kit as a reference standard. The cut-off value (OD450) was found 0.53 by ROC analysis. As indicated by a kappa value of 0.88 and 96.66% agreement, both assays showed perfect agreement. An iELISA based on WCP of local Mccp detected seroconversion in experimental goats 7 days post-infection (dpi). The iELISA revealed a sensitivity of 90.83% (95% CI: 83.77%, 95.55%) and a specificity of 92.31% (95% CI: 84.79%, 96.85%) and has no cross-reaction with related mycoplasma epidemic diseases. For both inter-assay and intra-assay precision, the iELISA percentage coefficient of variation (%CV) was 4.8% and 1.74%, respectively. In conclusion, this in-house iELISA based on local Mccp-WCP was determined as a sensitive and specific assay for the diagnosis of Mccp infection.

Adoption of veterinary vaccines, determining factors, and barriers in Southwest Ethiopia: Implications for livestock health and disease management strategies

In Ethiopia, the use of veterinary vaccines to control animal diseases is an effective strategy. A study conducted in Southwest Ethiopia from October 2020 to October 2021 aimed to determine the adoption level of veterinary vaccines and factors affecting their use. The study used multistage random sampling to select districts and interviewed 476 farmers who had either adopted or not adopted the vaccines. The study found that certain diseases should be prioritized for vaccination to safeguard the health of cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry. These include anthrax (19.12 %), blackleg (17.65 %), foot and mouth disease (10.50 %), and lumpy skin disease (8.82 %) in cattle, and pasteurellosis (18.07 %), contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (15.97 %), peste des petits ruminants (14.15 %), and Orf (13.45 %) in sheep and goats. Newcastle disease (21.85 %), infectious bursal disease (19.33 %), and coccidiosis (17.02 %) were identified as high-priority diseases for flock health. Overall, 30.7 % of farmers were adopters of veterinary vaccines, while 69.3 % were non-adopters. The study identified several factors that influence the likelihood of adopting veterinary vaccines, including breed type (OR = 9.1, p < 0.0001), production size (OR = 9.7, p < 0.0001), production type (OR = 2.7, p < 0.0001), and farm location (OR = 9.8, p = 0.001). Common barriers to vaccination included a lack of disease knowledge, high vaccine costs, limited vaccine availability, and administration difficulties. Insights from the study can guide strategies for promoting veterinary vaccine adoption in Ethiopia. Stakeholders should pay attention to these findings since vaccine use is crucial for controlling animal diseases, enhancing animal health, and preventing economic losses. Further research is needed to investigate factors affecting enhanced veterinary vaccine adoption.

A toolbox for manipulating the genome of the major goat pathogen, Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae.

Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capripneumoniae (Mccp) is the causative agent of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP), a devastating disease listed by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as a notifiable disease and threatening goat production in Africa and Asia. Although a few commercial inactivated vaccines are available, they do not comply with WOAH standards and there are serious doubts regarding their efficacy. One of the limiting factors to comprehend the molecular pathogenesis of CCPP and develop improved vaccines has been the lack of tools for Mccp genome engineering. In this work, key synthetic biology techniques recently developed for closely related mycoplasmas were adapted to Mccp. CReasPy-Cloning was used to simultaneously clone and engineer the Mccp genome in yeast, prior to whole-genome transplantation into M. capricolum subsp. capricolum recipient cells. This approach was used to knock out an S41 serine protease gene recently identified as a potential virulence factor, leading to the generation of the first site-specific Mccp mutants. The Cre-lox recombination system was then applied to remove all DNA sequences added during genome engineering. Finally, the resulting unmarked S41 serine protease mutants were validated by whole-genome sequencing and their non-caseinolytic phenotype was confirmed by casein digestion assay on milk agar. The synthetic biology tools that have been successfully implemented in Mccp allow the addition and removal of genes and other genetic features for the construction of seamless targeted mutants at ease, which will pave the way for both the identification of key pathogenicity determinants of Mccp and the rational design of novel, improved vaccines for the control of CCPP.

Immune response and safety of co-administered peste des petits ruminants, contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, sheep and goat pox, and Pasteurellosis vaccines in goats.

Infectious diseases such as peste des petits ruminants (PPRs), contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP), sheep and goat pox (SGPX), and pasteurellosis have considerable impacts on the optimal utilization of sheep and goat resources in Ethiopia. Immunization using multiple vaccines administered simultaneously has been suggested as a cost-effective and safe approach to controlling and preventing these diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the immunogenicity and safety of multiple vaccines administered simultaneously in goats. Sero-negative PPR, CCPP, SGPX, and Pasteurellosis goats were immunized with multiple vaccines. Goats vaccinated with a single vaccine against each disease served as a positive control. The immune response of the goats was assessed using serological tests, and any adverse effects were monitored. The results of the present study showed that goats vaccinated with multiple vaccines exhibited a remarkable immune response against PPR, CCPP, and pasteurellosis. In contrast, they did not produce a protective immune response against sheep or goat pox. No adverse effects were observed with any of the vaccines. This study suggested that combined vaccines can be effective at inducing a protective immune response in goats. However, further research is needed to fully understand the immune response to combined vaccines.

An immunohistochemical study on the evaluation of mast cell, interleukin 17 and interleukin 1β profile in contagious caprine pleuropneumonia.

Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in goats is defined as a highly contagious and rapidly spreading mycoplasmal disease that is now among the leading causes of major economic losses on many continents (Asia, Africa and the Middle East). In this study, we aimed to evaluate immunohistochemically mast cells (MCs) profile and local interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-1β protein expressions in naturally infected CCPP according to the course of the inflammation (peracute-acute, subacute-chronic). The material of the study consisted of 40 naturally infected CCPP and 6 healthy control goat lung tissues. Appropriate samples were taken from the necropsied goats and subjected to histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. In the histopathological examination of the samples, it was determined that 29 samples had a peracute-acute course and 11 had a subacute-chronic course. In immuno-histochemical examination, MC profile and local IL-17 and IL-1β protein expressions were evaluated in the peracute-acute and subacute-chronic course. Immunohistochemically, significant increases in MC number, local IL-17 and IL-1β scores were detected in the peracute-acute course compared to the control group. There were significant decreases in the relevant scores in the subacute-chronic course compared to the peracute-acute course. Current findings indicated that MC, IL-17, and IL-1β expressions played important roles in the pathogenesis of infection in naturally infected CCPP, especially in the peracute-acute course. Additionally, MC profile was evaluated for the first time in naturally infected CCPP.

Mathematical Dynamics of Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia in Africa and Approximation Using Runge Kutta Method

Mathematical Dynamics of Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia in Africa and Approximation Using Runge Kutta Method

Quantification of antigen of Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae by optical assay

Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (Mccp) is the cause of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in goats. Inactivated vaccines and capsular polysaccharide (CPS) indirect hemagglutination reagents are available for prevention and serological detection, but high culture costs and complex antigen quantification have been plagued by production staff. In order to solve these problems in production practice, a sugar fermentation medium with an initial pH value of 7.8, which could improve the production of two antigens simultaneously, was screened out by changing the initial pH value based on previous Mccp metabolomics analysis. Since phenol red can be identified by UV absorption spectrum and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) can bind to anionic capsular polysaccharide, a UV spectrum measurement method for analyzing the culture stage reached by Mccp and a CTAB precipitation test for relative quantification of capsular polysaccharide antigen content in the fermentation broth were established. The UV spectrum observation method can guide the production of Mccp according to the growth curve of Mccp, which greatly reduces the monitoring time of the traditional CCU method and improves the accuracy of the original eye-observation method. The established CTAB precipitation test can complete the monitoring of CPS content within 5 hours, which greatly reduces the time required compared with the traditional differential technique, and its accuracy was verified by the phenol-sulfuric acid method. The optimized culture medium and the two correlation comparison methods established in this study can effectively reduce the production cost of Mccp and improve the production efficiency. The two assays have been used in the research at our laboratory, which provides experimental data for further improvement of the production process of CCPP inactivated vaccine and capsular polysaccharide as well as rapid quantification.

Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia: A review of the global situation with a special reference to Oman

Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) is a severe infectious disease caused by Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae (Mccp) and infects goats, sheep, and wild ruminants. CCPP is characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates reaching up to (100% and 80%), respectively. The disease affects goat farming around the globe in more than 30 countries, particularly in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. CCPP is manifested in peracute, acute, or chronic forms. The general characteristic clinical signs of the disease are rapid, painful, and labored respiration, dyspnea, nasal discharge, coughing, hyperthermia (41°C), anorexia, emaciation, and abnormal posture. Lesions induced by CCPP are restricted to the pleural cavity in the form of unilateral serofibrinous, pleuropneumonia, accumulation of fluid in the chest cavity, lung congestion, hepatization, formation of adhesion to the pleural coastal, and swollen mediastinal and bronchial lymph nodes. Disease diagnosis encompasses a range of methods, including bacterial culture, isolation, and identification, pathological, serological, and molecular tests. The present review provides an overview of the historical perspective, epidemiological factors, and recommended diagnostic and control strategies for CCPP in Oman.

Common Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in Goats of Tropical Africa and their Impacts on Production Performance: A Review

Available scientific studies on goat diseases in tropical Africa are limited to specific regions or specific diseases. This study aimed to review scientific research findings on goat diseases in tropical Africa, focusing on their prevalence and impacts on production performance. All main diseases, such as parasitic, viral, and bacterial diseases, are included in the present study. Studies conducted in different countries have revealed high prevalence rates of gastrointestinal parasites exceeding 95%. These parasites resulted in growth retardation and reduced carcass weight at slaughter. Management of mites could decrease production and reproductive function. Trypanosomiasis led to decreased hematocrit levels, abortions, low birth weight, and high kid mortality. The prevalence of trypanosomiasis has been different across regions, ranging from 2.95% to 57.1%. Peste des Petits Ruminants has been reported in many African countries, causing significant outbreaks with seroprevalence rates ranging from 30% to 55%. Rift Valley fever was characterized by high mortality in adult goats (20-30%) and numerous abortions 2 weeks after infection, with seroprevalence rates ranging up to 25.8%. Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia indicated high morbidity (approximately 100%) and high mortality (80% to 100%), with prevalence ranging from 22% to 39% in abattoirs and from 35% to 52% in farms. Brucellosis did not affect the weight of infected animals but reduced litter size in goats and disrupts vital organs. This review highlights the extent of goat diseases in tropical Africa to determine the most appropriate prevention and control strategies.

Evaluation of ameliorative potential of antioxidants and/or immunomodulators in contagious caprine pleuropneumonia affected Himalayan Pashmina goats

Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia causes oxidative stress and immune disturbances in affected goats. Hence these derogative alterations aggravate the pathogenesis and severity of this disease, thus, necessitating utilization of antioxidants and/or immunomodulators in the therapeutic regimes of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia. Present study evaluated ameliorative effects of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and alpha tocopherol (vitamin E) in association with primary antibiotic tylosin treatment in contagious caprine pleuropneumonia affected test goats in comparison to antibiotic only treated goats (n=6) and healthy goats (n=6). N-acetyl cysteine given at a dose of 12 mg per kg of body weight orally daily for 7 days, showed better antioxidant effect by significantly ameliorating oxidative stress (41.4%) compared to other treatments; besides, decreasing total oxidative status (TOS) and increasing total antioxidant status (TAS). Immunomodulatory potential of alpha tocopherol given at a dose of 10 mg per kg of body weight orally daily for 7 days, was found to be comparatively better than NAC in decreasing percentage of neutrophils and increasing percentage of lymphocytes; besides, decreasing the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) when the modulation of total leukocyte count and differential leukocyte count was comparable between the two. Thus, it can be concluded from this study that NAC acts as a comparatively better antioxidant and alpha tocopherol as better immunomodulator when used in the therapeutic regimes of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice of goat farmers towards contagious caprine pleuropneumonia in Amhara region, Ethiopia

Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) is known for its high mortality, morbidity, and economic losses. A cross-sectional study using a multistage cluster sampling technique was conducted in Amhara Regional State from January to June 2019 to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of goat farmers towards CCPP in the region. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information from the goat farmers found in 12 districts. A total of 386 goat producer respondents participated in the questionnaire survey. Out of all the households of goat farmers interviewed, 370 (95.8%) were headed by males, while 16 (4.2%) were headed by females. Of all the respondents, 73.58% did not know the disease. The remaining 26.42% were familiar with the CCPP and had seen the disease in their goats or nearby goat flocks, and from this 4%, they experienced CCPP with their goats. Half of the participants who experienced the disease in their flock reported that mixing with neighboring flocks was the major source of CCPP infection. The goat farmers who are familiar with the disease had a high-risk perception of CCPP with a mean score of 4 out of 5 for the seriousness of the disease and 4.12 out of 5 for the risk of infection. These farmers showed a good perception of the effectiveness of prevention practices with a mean score of 4 out of 5 for the usefulness of vaccinations and reporting disease outbreaks to veterinary authorities. This collective understanding demonstrates their awareness of the disease and the proactive measures they are willing to take to mitigate its impact on their flocks. They have a good practice of vaccinating and treating their goats. Most of the farmers use veterinary clinic services to control CCPP occurrence in their herds. Although the farmers familiar with the disease have a good understanding of the risk of the disease and a positive attitude towards control measures, most farmers are not aware of the disease and hence better animal extension about the disease is needed in the study area.