Detection of Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in condemned cattle lungs at Morogoro municipal abattoir in Tanzania

Abstract

Control of re-emerged Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in Tanzania in 1990s left spots of unvaccinated animals in various areas. Some of these animals were carriers of CBPP and have presumably continued to be sources of infection to other animals. We made an abattoir follow-up of slaughtered animals to understand whether the disease is still present in Tanzania. A total of 13 condemned lungs due to CBPP-like lesions at Morogoro municipal abattoir were collected from November 2011 to April 2012 and examined grossly, histologically and
bacteriologically. Typical gross lesions of CBPP including expanded interlobular septa, sequestration, coalescing lungs, and fibrinonecrotic exudation were observed. Histologically, we observed fibrinonecrotic exudates filling and expanding the alveoli, desquamation of alveolar epithelial cells, lymphoplasmacytic infiltration in the interalveolar septa and around bronchi, bronchioles, and blood vessels, and vasculitis with   subsequent vascular rupture and hemorrhage. Mycoplama cultures in two samples isolated Mycoplasma organisms with “fried egg appearance”, typical of Mycoplasma mycoides mycoides small colony type, the causative agent of CBPP. We conclude that CBPP is still prevalent in Tanzania and continues to pose a potential impending epidemic in the future.

Keywords: CBPP, MmmSC, Abattoir, histopathology, apparently healthy cattle, Tanzania