Infectious Pleuropneumonia of Goats

an infectious disease of goats characterized mainly by croupous pneumonia and pleuritis.

The disease was first described in Algeria in 1873; it was observed in Russia in 1895 by V. Ia. Benkevich and in 1896 by V. N. Matveev. The causative agent is a mycoplasma (Mycoplasma mycoides var. capri). The disease was eradicated in the USSR in 1958. Since it spreads quickly on farms, the sick rate tends to be 100 percent. Young animals develop a severe form. The main source of the infection is diseased goats. The causative agent is transmitted through the respiratory tract, with a latent period of five to 20 days.

The clinical symptoms are sudden rise in temperature, labored breathing, cough, and pleuritis. The diagnosis is based on all the clinical and epizootological findings. Prevention and control call for the farm to be quarantined, the obviously sick goats to be slaughtered, the more valuable animals isolated and treated, and all the animals in the danger zone vaccinated.