CCPP Disease in Goats and Sheep: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia is a highly contagious disease that affects goats and is similar to Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in cattle. In communities where goats are a major source of animal protein, this disease can have a significant economic impact.

Pneumonia affects young goats (kids) staying in dirty environments and cold environmental conditions. There is stress in animals due to bad smells coming from their urine and droppings.

Coldness, dirt, and poor nutrition can increase the chances of disease outbreaks in kids.

Causes of Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia Disease in Goats And Sheep

The disease is caused by Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capripneumoniae (Mccp) and is transmitted through droplet infection from nasal discharge.

In environments where goats are confined, infectivity is extremely high with a morbidity rate of 100% and mortality ranging from 60-100%.

Clinical Signs of CCPP Disease in Goats and Sheep

1. Body weakness, anorexia, cough, hyperpnoea, and nasal discharge.
2. High fever of about 41ᵒc.
3. Intolerance to exercise and, eventually, respiratory distress develop.
4. Death from septicemia may occur without specific localization in the lungs.

Postmortem Findings of CCPP Disease in Goats and Sheep

The thorax contains excess straw-colored fluid and distention of interlobular septa by sero-fibrinous fluid.

There is pericarditis, arthritis, and sometimes meningitis occurs.

Acute fibrinous pneumonia- sometimes it is confined to one lung.

The tendency to form sequestra is less compared to that seen in CBPP, and lesions resolve slowly in surviving animals.

Diagnosis of CCPP Disease in Goats and Sheep

Diagnosis of the disease is performed through observation of clinical signs, examination of the disease's spread (epidemiology), and examination of post-mortem findings.

Isolation and identification of the causative agent may be challenging. In cases of pneumonia, Pasteurella is often isolated, which can complicate the identification process.

Serological tests may be necessary for proper identification.

How to control contagious caprine pleuropneumonia disease in goats and sheep;

1. Quarantine the animals, and carry out vaccination for all animals.
2. There should be excellent protection, tests, and elimination of positive cases is also advisable in order to control the CBPP disease in goats and sheep.
3. Treat the affected animals with drugs like tylosin, oxytetracycline, and multivitamins, among others, in the early stages, but not totally, because recovered animals remain to linger and are carriers of the disease then, lastly slaughter policy should be observed too.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP) is a highly contagious disease that poses a significant economic threat to goat-rearing communities. The disease is caused by Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capripneumoniae and spreads through droplet infection.

Stressful environmental conditions, such as coldness, dirt, and poor nutrition, can increase the chances of disease outbreaks. The clinical signs of CCPP include weakness, cough, hyperpnoea, and nasal discharge, often leading to respiratory distress and death.

To control CCPP, it is crucial to implement quarantine measures, vaccination for all animals, and appropriate treatment with drugs like tylosin and oxytetracycline. However, it's important to note that recovered animals can remain carriers of the disease. Therefore, a slaughter policy may need to be observed as part of disease management efforts.