Rinderpest: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Control

Rinderpest (Cattle Plague)

• Also known as Bovine typhus
• Caused by rinderpest virus (Morbillivirus), a paramyxoviridae family virus
• Nasal and ocular secretions transmit the disease, but there's no carrier state
• The virus is fragile and inactivated within 12 hours

Rinderpest Clinical Signs

• Incubation period is 3–15 days
• Symptoms include fever, nasal discharge, and oral ulcers
• Severe diarrhea (often bloody) can lead to dehydration
• Mortality rates can reach up to 90% in outbreaks

Rinderpest Pathology and Diagnosis

• Key sign is "Zebra-striping" in the rectum
• Necrosis occurs in the gastrointestinal tract and lymphoid tissue
• RT-PCR is the preferred test for accurate detection
• Other diagnostic tests include antigen-capture ELISA, lateral flow, and virus isolation
• Bovine viral diarrhea, foot-and-mouth disease, and malignant catarrhal fever should be considered as differential diagnoses

Rinderpest Control & Prevention

• Vaccination provides lifelong immunity
• Quarantine and movement control are essential
• Post-eradication surveillance includes testing required for unexplained cases with rinderpest-like signs

Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR)

• Also known as "Goat Plague" or Pseudo rinderpest/Kata
• Morbilivirus of Paramyxoviridae causes this highly contagious viral disease in sheep and goats
• Primarily affects the respiratory and digestive systems, and has no cure, but vaccination can prevent it

PPR Transmission

• Transmitted through direct contact with infected saliva, tears, feces, and urine
• Crowded areas like markets and shared grazing increase the risk of spread
• Cattle and pigs can get infected but don't spread the disease

PPR Key Symptoms

• High fever (40–41.3°C) is a symptom
• Nasal and eye discharge starts watery, then becomes thick and smelly
• Painful mouth sores occur on the lips, gums, tongue, and palate
• Severe diarrhea can lead to dehydration and weight loss
• Coughing and pneumonia occur in the late stages
• Mortality rates can reach up to 100% in outbreaks

PPR Diseases, Diagnosis, and Prevention

• Diseases resembling PPR include CCPP, Orf, Coccidiosis, Heartwater, and Mineral Deficiencies
• PCR and ELISA tests can detect the virus
• Vaccination provides protection for 1+ years
• Quarantine and surveillance help control outbreaks
• Global eradication of PPR is aimed by 2030, given it threatens millions of farmers worldwide

Canine Distemper

• Also known as Hard pad disease or Canine influenza
• It is a highly contagious viral disease affecting dogs and other animals worldwide
• The disease causes fever, respiratory and digestive issues, and may lead to severe neurological complications
• Vaccination is the best defense

Canine Distemper Transmission

• Caused by a paramyxovirus, related to measles
• Spread through aerosol droplets from infected animals
• It affects dogs, foxes, raccoons, ferrets, and even elephants
• Some infected dogs can spread the virus for months

Canine Distemper Symptoms

• General symptoms include fever (in two waves), lethargy, and loss of appetite
• Respiratory symptoms include nasal discharge and pneumonia
• Digestive symptoms include diarrhea and vomiting
• Neurologic symptoms are muscle twitching, chewing-gum fits (jaw seizures), circling, head tilt, eye flickering, weakness, or paralysis
• Neurologic symptoms may appear weeks or months later

Canine Distemper Diagnosis and Treatment

• Diagnosis involves recognizing multisystemic symptoms and confirming with RT-PCR, antibody tests (ELISA, IFA), or tissue biopsies
• It mimic parvovirus, hepatitis, or poisoning (lead, organophosphates)
• There is no cure, only supportive care with main treatments including fluids & electrolytes, antibiotics (to prevent secondary infections), and anticonvulsants (for seizures)
• Good nutrition & nursing care required
• Severe neurologic cases may have a poor prognosis

Vesicular Stomatitis (VS)

• Also known as Mouth thrush or Sporadin aptha/Stomatitis
• The illness affects horses, cattle, and sometimes other animals
• VS is spread via biting flies, midges, and direct contact, which is troublesome
• It looks similar to foot-and-mouth disease

VS Causes and Symptoms

• Caused by Vesiculovirus Family Rhabdoviridae (New Jersey & Indiana strains)
• Culprit insects like black flies, midges, and sandflies transmit VS
• Humans can contract VS, with flu-like symptoms
• Causes drooling, painful blisters & sores onevery part of the body
• Creates crusty skin lesions on the muzzle and belly

What To Do About VS

• Resembles Foot-and-mouth disease, Swine vesicular disease and Vesicular exanthema of swine
• No cure, only supportive care with soft food and wound cleaning is required
• Keeping bugs away with fly control is a lifesaver
• Sick animals must be quarantined for 14 days
• There is no US vaccine
• VS is a reportable disease, so veterinary guidance is essential ASAP

Rabies in Animals

• Also known as Mad dog / Hydrophobia/ Jalatanka lyssa
• Rabies is a deadly viral illness that affects the central nervous system of mammals
• Lyssavirus of family Rhabdoviridae causes Rabies and transmits via the bite or saliva of an infected animal
• The illness causes severe neurological symptoms and inevitable death if untreated

Rabies Symptoms

Prodromal Stage

• Causes sudden behavioral changes (aggression or unusual friendliness)
• Results in fever, anxiety, and restlessness

Excitative (Furious) Stage

• Causes extreme aggression and attacking without provocation
• Results in excessive salivation ("foaming at the mouth")
• Difficulty swallowing & uncoordinated movements

Paralytic (Dumb) Stage

• Results in weakness & paralysis, starting from the bite site
• Progresses to coma and death due to respiratory failure

Rabies Transmission and Pevention

• Transmitted from Dogs, Cats, Cattle, horses, bats, raccoons, skunks, foxes, and coyotes
• Through bites from infected animals
• Via saliva entering open wounds or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth)
• Prevention requires pets and livestock to be vaccinated regularly
• Avoid contact with wild or stray animals
• Seek medical attention immediately after a bite or suspected exposure
• Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) can save lives if given before symptoms appear

Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) & Mucosal Disease (MD)

• A complex of diseases affecting cattle & ruminants caused by a highly contagious pestivirus
• It causes immune suppression, diarrhea, abortion, and death
• Mucosal Disease (MD) is a rare and fatal occurrence in persistently infected (PI) cattle
• Caused by Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Pestivirus of Togaviridae (BVDV-1 & BVDV-2)
• Spread via direct contact, body fluids, and in utero infection
• PI animals are primary virus carriers

BVD and MD Diagnoses an Prevention

• Subclinical cases shows no signs but still spreading
• Acute infections show fever, diarrhea, nasal discharge, reproductive losses
• Mucosal Disease manifests in severe ulcers, diarrhea, dehydration, and death
• Diagnosed via PCR & Serology to detect virus/antibodies, Virus Isolation from blood/milk/tissues, and Ear Notch Biopsy to identify PI animals
• Consider Malignant Catarrhal Fever, Bluetongue, and Rinderpest in differential diagnosis
• Prevention includes vaccination, biosecurity, and herd management

Louping Ill in Animals (Ovine Encephalomyelitis)

• Tick-borne viral illness that affects sheep, red grouse, cattle, goats, horses, dogs, pigs, and humans
• Causes fatal encephalitis with neurologic signs
• No specific treatment or vaccine available

Louping Ill Transmission

• Louping ill virus (Flavi virus of togaviridae family) transmits through Ixodes ricinus ticks
• Sheep & red grouse develop high viremia, enabling tick transmission
• Also spread through contaminated instruments, tissues, and goat milk

Louping Ill Symptoms and Diagnosis

• Initial replication in lymphoid tissues leads to viremia (1-5 days) and CNS invasion
• Neurologic signs include tremors, ataxia, weakness, collapse, and sudden death
• Survivors develop lifelong immunity, but peracute deaths are possible
• Concurrent Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection worsens severity
• Serology tested via Hemagglutination inhibition test (IgM vs. IgG)
• Diagnosed postmortem: Histopathology & PCR on brain tissue

Louping Ill Control and Zoonotic Risk

• Tick control measures and Colostral immunity protect lambs initially
• Can cause severe encephalomyelitis in humans
• Transmitted through tick bites, handling infected tissues, or consuming contaminated milk
• Lab workers should be vaccinated against tickborne encephalitis virus

Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR)

• Also known as IBR/ Red Nose/ Necrotic Rhenitis
• It is caused by Bovine Herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) Spread through direct contact, airborne droplets, contaminated equipment, and latent carriers

Clinical Signs of IBR

• Respiratory Form presents with fever, nasal discharge, coughing, and open-mouth breathing
• Reproductive Form includes abortions, infertility, vulvovaginitis, and balanoposthitis
• Ocular Form appears as conjunctivitis, excessive tearing, and corneal ulcers
• Neurologic Form (Rare) shows symptoms of depression, incoordination, and seizures in calves

Diagnosis, Treatment, and Impact of IBR

• Diagnosis involves clinical signs & history and laboratory tests (PCR, virus isolation, ELISA, serology)
• With no specific antiviral treatment provided, supportive care can still be applied
• Prevention includes vaccination, strict biosecurity, and stress reduction
• It causes reduced milk yield, growth delays, abortions, and trade restrictions
• It is not zoonotic

Malignant Catarrhal Fever (MCF)

• Caused by gammaherpesviruses
• Highly fatal systemic disease in ruminants
• Affects cattle, bison, deer, buffalo, and other ruminants
• Not contagious between sick animals, spread occurs from carrier species (sheep, wildebeest, goats)

MCF Causes

• Caused by Ovine herpesvirus-2 (sheep), Alcelaphine herpesvirus-1 (wildebeest), Caprine herpesvirus-2 (goats)
• Spread via nasal secretions and airborne transmission
• Highly susceptible species are bison, deer, and Bali cattle

MCF Clinical Signs, Diagnosis, and Control

• Cattle: Fever, nasal/oral erosions, swollen lymph nodes, eye opacity, neurological signs
• Deer & Bison: Peracute form—sudden death, hemorrhagic diarrhea, and bloody urine
• Diagnosis involves clinical signs + laboratory tests.
• Gold standard assay is a PCR assay for detecting viral DNA.
• consider BVD, IBR, rabies, and East Coast fever

Bluetongue in Ruminants

• Also known as Sore mouth/ Epizootic catarrh/ pseudo Fmd
• Bluetongue is a non-contagious, viral disease spread by biting midges (Culicoides)
• Affects sheep, cattle, and wild ruminants
• Orbivirus of Reoviridae causes it

Bluetongue Causes and Symptoms

• Spread by biting midges, infected semen (cattle), and rare transplacental transmission
• Sheep: Fever (105–107.5°F), swollen muzzle/tongue/face, lameness & painful hooves, ulcers in mouth & nose, drooling, and breathing difficulties
• Cattle: Fever, mouth ulcers, drooling, watery eyes, nasal discharge, and occasional lameness
• Preventable via Vaccination (strain-specific) and vector control.

Equine Influenza

• Fast-spreading respiratory virus
• Also known as Equine Distemper/ Typhoid Fever/ Pink eye
• Highly contagious RNA virus that causes fever, cough, and nasal discharge in horses and is caused by Myxovirus
• Spreads rapidly, can be transferred via direct contact and fomites

Equine Influenza Causes and Symptoms

• Involves fever up to 106°F, a persistent dry cough, nasal discharge, mild lymph node swelling, and risk of secondary bacterial infections
• Complete recovery normally takes 2-3 weeks
• Recovery is not always present and can take up to 6 months in severe cases
• Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA), Strangles (Streptococcus equi), and Bacterial Pneumonia are comparable illnesses to this
• Rest and NSAIDs alongside Antibiotics are key factors for treating
• The key to preventing this illness is Vaccination and Biosecurity

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)

• THE ULTIMATE LIVESTOCK NIGHTMARE
• Caused by Aphthovirus (Picornaviridae family)
• Causes Huge economic losses! Young animals can even die from heart failure, making vaccination crucial for economic peace of mind

FMD Cause and Effect

• Cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and wild hoofed animals and susceptible to FMD
• Airborne transmission can spread the disease over 150 miles
• Can linger in FMD-free regions, where outbreaks cause global panic
• A 2001 UK outbreak once cost *$10 Billion in losses
• Strict quarantine and culling in disease-free areas
• Endemic regions (Africa, Asia, Middle East) fight the illness

FMD Symptoms and Recognition

• Symptoms include Fever (104°F / 40°C), Blisters on the mouth/feet/teats ,Excessive drooling, Milk reduction drops, Limping & refusal to move, and Young animals can die suddenly
• Diagnosis involves RT-PCR to allow for Fast & accurate virus detection
• The Key to defence is a FMD free area
• Vaccinations help, but aren't a cure-all
• Biosecurity and early detection = best defense

Pseudocowpox in Cattle

• Also known as Milker’s Nodules/ Ring sore
• Affects the teats and udder of cows
• Causes the illness of parapoxvirus of contagious ecthyma
• Occurs worldwide, spreads gradually through direct contact, and reinfections are possible in later lactations
• Contraction can be prevented if all parties carry out strict hygiene and health procedures Human and animal alike

Pseudocowpoxs Effect and Preventative Measures

• The illness shows as small, red papules that may later become vesicles or pustules before scabbing over
• The illness is contracted via direct contact from farmer to farmer
• Humans often carry painless, itchy, purplish-red nodules on their fingers or hands
• These usually heal on their own within a few weeks
• Regular disinfection of milking equipment as well as applying teat dipping can significantly lower occurrences

Contagious Ecthyma (Orf)

• Also known as Sore Mouth Disease, Contagious Pustular Dermatitis, Scabby mouth
• Highly contagious viral skin infection affecting sheep, goats, and humans
• Caused by a parapoxvirus that spreads through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated surfaces
• Key prevention practices include good hygiene as well as vaccination and biosecurity practices

Transmission of Contagious Ecthyma (Orf)

• Causes direct contact with infected animals and contaminated surfaces
• The virus can survive for months in the environment
• The illness typically heals in 1–4 weeks, but animals can be reinfected upon recovery
• Usually heals within a few weeks without treatment if so
• Human Infection
• It affects with painful sores on hands, arms, or face