MIXED INFECTION OF MYCOPLASMA MYCOIDES SUBSPECIES MYCOIDES AND MYCOBACTERIUM BOVIS IN BUNAJI CATTLE

Abstract

A herd of 43 nomadic Bunaji cattle in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State were presented for screening with history and signs of persistence coughing, anorexia, fall in milk yield, back arch and head extension towards wind direction. The cattle were screened for Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides (MmmSC), a causative agent of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) that caused Bovine Tuberculosis (BTB) using BoviLAT® Latex Agglutination Test-PA6223 (CFT) and One-Step Anigen® Rapid Bovine Tuberculosis Antibody Test (IQRT), respectively. Of the 43 cattle screened, 53.5% had antibodies to MmmSC while 13.9% had antibodies to both MmmSC and M. bovis. Cattle that were positive for MmmSC were confined and administered 20% long acting oxytetracycline (Tridox L.A) at 20 mg kg-1 body weight while those that were negative to both tests were vaccinated with CBPP vaccine obtained from National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), Vom. Cattle that were positive to both MmmSC and M. bovis antibodies were advised to be cull out. This investigation revealed that under natural condition, concurrent mixed infections of cattle with CBPP and BTB may occur unnoticed in nomadic Bunaji cattle. This may be possible as CBPP may mimic BTB with the consequences of decrease in productivity and high morbidity. Serological tests used in this study may be useful for epidemiological studies while bacteriological culture, postmortem examination and tuberculin skin test (for BTB) need to be carried out to confirm CBPP and BTB. The use of antibiotics in a combined strategy with vaccination and restriction of movement in CBPP out breaks; screening and early culling of animals exposed to M. bovis may help in reducing the economic impact of CBPP and BTB in the tropic.