Rinderpest or Cattle Plague

Master Preventive Medicine – Notes, Case Studies and Practical Insights – with Lomash

Rinderpest or Cattle Plague

Syn: Cattle plague, Bovine typhus, Peste bovine

It is contagious disease of livestock that affects GI and respiratory system of cattle, buffaloes and occasionally sheep, goat, wild ruminants and pigs.
It is characterized by fever, focal erosive lesion in mucosa of alimentary tract, dehydration and destruction of lymphocytes.

Etiology:

Epidemiology:

This disease has been eradicated globally in 2011.
In Nepal, it was eradicated in May 2002.
The last reported rinderpest outbreak occurred in Kenya in 2001
In susceptible populations, rinderpest causes high morbidity ~100% and mortality was as high as 90% in epidemic areas.
Disease was distributed globally; last confirmed outbreak was in Kenya in 2001.
Outbreaks were more common during dry seasons, when animal congregated near water sources.
Recovered animals have solid immunity and no carrier state.
Young cattle are more susceptible to virus. Indigenous cattle are more resistant to disease.

Transmission:

By direct contact with infected animal discharge, secretions like saliva, urine, tears.
Contaminated water or food, aerosol or droplet.
Possibility of mechanical transmission by biting flies or ticks.
Through infected meat, hide and animal product.
Faeces is main source of infection.

Pathogenesis:

Virus has tropism for lymphoid tissue and mucus membrane of alimentary tract.
Destruction of lymphocytes and leukopenia
Invades URT and become generalized throughout body
Viremia occurs
First there is high rise of temperature (105-107°F) for 5-7 days. Then fever drops suddenly with production of diarrhoea and lesion. Damage oral mucosa gives rise to bran-like deposits.

Clinical Findings:

The famous four Ds—depression, dehydration, discharge, and diarrhea—are often used to describe the typical clinical signs.

Cattle and buffalo:

High fever (105-107°F) followed by depression
Loss of appetite, reduction of milk product
Nasal and eye discharge
Labored, rapid breathing
Mucus membrane of nostrils is reddened and eruptions occurs giving bran-like deposits. It is also seen in lips and cheeks.
Necrotic foci of 5mm in diameter inside of lower portion of lips and cheeks. These foci are discrete white and elevated.
Irregular eruption appears in mouth, lining of nose and vaginal mucosa. These eruptions are followed by distinct ulceration.
Initially, there is constipation but later on diarrhoea occurs, i.e. shooting diarrhoea. Diarrhoea is watery dark at first followed by feces containing blood, fragments of necrotic epithelium and blood clot.
Temperature falls in 3^rd or 5^th
Dyspnea, persistent coughing, dehydration and emaciation
Disease terminates fatally within 6-10 days.

Rinderpest - Foreign Animal Disease Recognition

Sheep and goat:

Pigs:

PM Findings:

Raised greyish white pin head punctate necrosis of epithelium of oral mucosa. These are found at ventral aspect of tongue, pharynx, inside lower lip, adjacent gums and cheeks near commissure.
Necrotic lesion in esophagus
Abomasum: initial greyish white necrotic foci which turns into erosion and ulceration, submucosa shows extensive edema.
Small intestine: streaks of hemorrhage and erosion on border of mucosal folds mostly in upper part of duodenum and ileum.
Large intestine: lesion found around ileo-caecal valve. Congestion is prominent lesion. Congestion and erythema along the folds of caecal mucosa produce characteristic barred or blackened mucosa giving rise to ‘zebra marking’ or ‘tiger stripping’.
Gall bladder: Scattered petechiation and hemorrhagic blotches on wall. Distended gall bladder
Congestion and erosion in larynx, longitudinal streaks of hemorrhages in trachea.
Lymph nodes are congested and dark red in color.

Diagnosis:

Based on clinical signs
Based on PM findings
Hematological examinations: Marked leukopenia at peak of infection (<4000/mm³) of blood.
Serological test: AGID, Direct and indirect immune-peroxidase test, ELISA, VNT, PCR
Animal inoculation test: 0.5 ml of citrated blood is collected and injected to the susceptible animals; calves, buffalo calves. There will be high rise of temperature in 3-6 days followed by appearance of other symptoms.

Differential Diagnosis:

PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE FMD - Technical information - Bio-Pharmachemie

Treatment:

Control:

This disease was eradicated globally by joint activity of FAO/OIE.
After creation of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 1946, WOAH and FAO signed a cooperation agreement in 1952 to eradicate the disease.
The disease was controlled in endemic areas by immunization of all cattle and domestic buffalo > 1 year old with a live attenuated vaccine.
In endemic areas, outbreaks were controlled by quarantine and “ring vaccination” (the practice of vaccinating individuals in proximity to an area of active infection, to protect them from the anticipated imminent spread of a disease transmitted by direct or close contact) and sometimes by slaughtering.
In epidemics, rinderpest was best eliminated by imposing quarantine and by slaughtering affected and exposed animals.
Vaccination
- FDGTV (Freeze dried goat tissue vaccine); for cattle and buffalo @1ml SC; immunity 5 years
- Tissue culture vaccine: For exotic breeds, crossbreds @ 1ml S/C; immunity of 2 years.