Caprine pleuropneumonia in Beetal goats [corrected]

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Pathology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) is a severe respiratory disease affecting goats.
• Understanding CCPP prevalence and pathology in specific breeds like Beetal goats is crucial for disease management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the seroprevalence, clinical manifestations, and pathological lesions of CCPP in Beetal goats during an outbreak.
• To confirm the causative agent, Mycoplasma mycoides, and assess its prevalence in affected goats.

Main Methods:

• Serological testing using counter immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) for Mycoplasma mycoides antibodies.
• Clinical examination of goats exhibiting respiratory signs.
• Necropsy and histopathological examination of lung tissues to identify characteristic lesions.

Main Results:

• Overall CCPP seroprevalence was 32.50%, with higher rates in older goats.
• Consistent clinical signs included cough, nasal discharge, dyspnea, and pyrexia.
• Lung consolidation (100%), alveolar exudation (90.90%), and pleural adhesion (72.72%) were prominent gross lesions; microscopic lesions included fibrosis and pleuritis.

Conclusions:

• CCPP is highly prevalent in Beetal goats under subtropical conditions.
• The disease leads to significant mortality and characteristic pathological changes in the lungs.