RINDERPEST

(CATTLE PLAGUE)

Dr. Munguti E.M

AHITI Ndomba.
EPIDEMIOLOGY

01/06/2022
 Until late 20th century rinderpest was endemic in a
number of countries in Africa and Asia Minor, but it now
appears to have been eradicated globally.

Munguti/Y2S1/VRD
 FAO, with the leading veterinary officials of rinderpest-
affected countries and international experts on
rinderpest, developed a strategy for worldwide
eradication which eventually evolved into the Global
Rinderpest Eradication Programme (GREP).
 It is the view of GREP that no confirmed cases of
rinderpest have been reported since 2001.

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DEFINITION

01/06/2022
 Rinderpest is a disease of cloven-hoofed animals
characterized by fever, necrotic stomatitis,
gastroenteritis, lymphoid necrosis, and high mortality

Munguti/Y2S1/VRD
 In epidemic form, it is the most lethal plague known in
cattle
 Among cattle, Bos taurus breeds show more severe
clinical involvement than Bos indicus breeds.
 affects some breeds of pigs and a large variety of wildlife

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AETIOLOGY
 Rinderpestvirus.

01/06/2022
 Family; Paramyxoviridae
 Genus; Morbillivirus
 Other members of the family include

Munguti/Y2S1/VRD
 Pestedes Petits Ruminants virus
 Measles virus
 Canine distemper virus
 The virus exists as three geographically
restricted clades, described as African Lineages 1
and 2 and Asian Lineage 3, which cross-protect
fully and are only differentiated by molecular
characterisation. 4
MORBIDITY & MORTALITY

01/06/2022
 Morbidity is often 100% and mortality is up to 90% in
epidemic areas, but in endemic areas morbidity is low
and clinical signs are often mild.

Munguti/Y2S1/VRD
 Naive populations mortality may reach 100%

 Endemic areas
 Susceptiblestock
are immature or
young adults

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TRANSMISSION

01/06/2022
 Direct contact
 Nasal/ocular secretions

Munguti/Y2S1/VRD
 Feces, urine, saliva, and blood

 Contaminated food or water

 Indirect contact
 Fomites

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TRANSMISSION

01/06/2022
 Aerosol transmission only very short distances
 Most infectious period: 1-2 days before clinical signs

Munguti/Y2S1/VRD
and 8-9 days after onset of clinical signs
 Vector transmission unknown

 No chronic carrier state

 Wildlife not a reservoir

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CLINICAL SIGNS

01/06/2022
 Incubation period
 3-15 days, usually 4-5 days

Munguti/Y2S1/VRD
 Four forms of disease
 Classic, Peracute, Subacute, Atypical
 Classic form
 Fever, depression, anorexia
 Constipation followed by hemorrhagic diarrhea
 Serous to muco-purulent nasal/ ocular discharge
 Necrosis and erosion
of the oral mucosa
 Enlarged lymph nodes
 Death in 6-12 days
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 Peracute
Younganimals; high fever with congested
mucous membranes, death in 2-3 days

01/06/2022
 Sub acute
Mild clinical signs with low mortality

Munguti/Y2S1/VRD
 Atypical
Irregular fever, mild or no diarrhea
Immuno suppression leading to secondary
infections

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POST MORTEM LESIONS

01/06/2022
 Esophagus
 Brown and necrotic foci

Munguti/Y2S1/VRD
 Omasum
 Rare erosions and hemorrhage
 Small intestine, abomasum, cecum and colon
 Necrosis, edema and congestion
 Colonic ridges may be congested, this is referred to as
“Tiger striping”

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PM.

01/06/2022
 Lymph nodes
 Swollen and edematous

Munguti/Y2S1/VRD
 Gall Bladder
 Hemorrhagic mucosa
 Lungs
 Emphysema, congestion and areas of pneumonia

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DIAGNOSIS
 Clinical

01/06/2022
 Rapidly
spreading acute febrile illness in all ages of animals
 Accompanying clinical signs consistent with RPV
 Laboratory Tests

Munguti/Y2S1/VRD
 Isolation and confirmation of virus
 Samples to Collect
 From Live animals (Viremia drops when fever falls and diarrhea
begins)
 Blood sample

 Swabs of lacrimal fluid

 Necrotic tissue of oral cavity

 Aspirations of superficial lymph nodes

 Dead animals
 Spleen, lymph node, tonsil 12
TREATMENT

01/06/2022
 No known treatment
 Diagnosis usually means slaughter of effected animals (loss)
 Supportive care with antibiotics in rare cases of valuable

Munguti/Y2S1/VRD
animals
 Preventative measures are key
 Notification of Authorities
 Quarantine
 Disinfection; Chemical
 Glycerol and lipid solvents
 Natural
 pH 2 and 12
 For at least 10 minutes
 Optimal survival for the virus is at pH 6.5-7 13
VACCINATION

01/06/2022
 Most commonly used vaccines
 Cell-culture-adapted

Munguti/Y2S1/VRD
 Colostral immunity interferes with vaccination
 Vaccinate calves annually for 3 years
 PREVENTION
 Endemic areas
 Vaccinate national herd according to recommendations
 High-risk countries
 Vaccination of susceptible animals
 Rinderpest free countries
 Import restrictions on susceptible animals and uncooked meat 14
products from infected countries