Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia in Nigeria: Review of outbreaks, risk factors, and Intervention approaches

Abstract

The contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) burden in Nigeria reduced significantly following the eradication of Rinderpest in 1977. However, strong barriers to prompt detection of outbreaks, treatment, and routine vaccination of CBPP persist particularly among the hard-to-reach populations under 2 classical sub-groups of the nomads and sedentary Fulanis, where the incidence of CBPP can be 20 times higher than those recorded against the settled or institutional farmers in Nigeria. In this review, we explored the long-standing challenges posed by CBPP in Nigeria focusing on outbreak patterns, risk factors, and intervention strategies in preparation for our collaboration efforts with the international bodies for the cross-border CBPP control program in Nigeria. In our previous review, we pointed out that the present tools for diagnosis and control are adequate for eradication and what is necessary are resources to improve vaccine coverage to levels of at least 80%, last seen in the 1970s when CBPP was restricted to very few countries of Africa. A study in Namibia supported strategic antimicrobial treatment in conjunction with routine and massive vaccination. The Italian Veterinary control authorities eradicated CBPP in less than 3 years through movement control, stamped-out policy through abattoir surveillance, and an effective animal identification system. This is presently not feasible in Nigeria however, Rinderpest was a much more difficult disease to eradicate than CBPP, but it was eventually successfully eradicated through vaccination control programs with the stakeholder's concept of goodwill and cooperation. Collaboration initiatives with full commitment are critical factors in controlling CBPP in Nigeria. Hence, extra funds should be set aside by the Nigerian government to improve vaccine coverage using the T1/44 with targeted use of antibiotics in outbreaks overseen by OIE experts.