Observations on rinderpest and rinderpest-like diseases throughout West and Central African countries during rinderpest eradication projects

Between 1998 and 2005, the Regional Reference Laboratory at Bingerville (Ivory-Coast) received samples for analysis from Western and Central African countries. From a total of 606 sera; 65 tissue samples and 75 swabs received, no rinderpest virus or specific gene products or antibodies against rinderpest were detected. Use of the PCR on the tissue and swabs (total of 140 samples) identified the genomic presence of BVD (4/140), MCF (2/140), IBR (1/140) and FMD (6/140) viruses. These cause diseases that produce similar clinical signs to rinderpest. The quality of many samples sent to the reference laboratory did not meet the laboratory requirements and this compromised analysis of some specimens.     

The global eradication of poliomyelitis: progress and problems

Encouraged by the success of the global smallpox eradication certified in 1980, the global poliomyelitis eradication program was launched in 1988 by the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition to routine polio immunization included in the Expanded Program of Immunization (EPI), two major activities were planned: mass polio vaccination campaigns and surveillance of all cases of acute flaccid paralysis. In 2000, the disease had been eliminated from most countries in the world. However, as of 2002, the community acceptance of vaccination was endangered in some countries by rumors about assumed adverse effects of oral polio vaccine. The rejection of polio immunization provided a worrying resurgence of polio in Northern Nigeria, followed by re-infection of 21 countries, whereas resurgence of the disease also was observed in Northern India. Supplementary vaccination activities were resumed, additional resources were mobilized and, in 2007, most re-infected countries became polio-free again. Today, polio remains endemic in only four countries. The goal of global polio eradication has now been set at 2010, but doubts have been expressed about the feasibility of its achievement.     

Antibody response of cattle to rinderpest vaccine

Antibody production was studied in cattle infected with rinderpest vaccine virus. Vaccinated cattle produced both IgM and IgG serum antibodies. The IgG antibodies were mainly those of IgG2 subclass. No IgA antibody response was detected in vaccinated animals.     

The historical background and global importance of heartwater

The first written record of what probably could have been heartwater originates from South Africa and dates back to 1838. Since then, the disease was described from almost all the African countries south of the Sahara as well as from Madagascar, S?o Tome, Reunion, Mauritius and a number of islands in the Caribbean. Most research on the disease, at least until recently, was conducted in South Africa. Progress in research was slow but a few outstanding findings are mentioned in this paper. Despite inadequate information on its actual economic impact on livestock production, it is generally accepted that heartwater is either the most or second most important tick-borne disease in Africa. Depending on the area, heartwater ranks either second or third amongst diseases such as East Coast fever, tsetse-transmitted trypanosomiasis, rinderpest and perhaps also schistosomiasis. Heartwater is a major obstacle with regard to the introduction of highly producing animals intended for the upgrading of local breeds. Furthermore, it remains a major threat to areas such as the American mainland, where potential vectors are present but where the disease does not occur.     

Detection of rinderpest antibodies

Rinderpest antibodies were detected by employing the fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and the immunoperoxidase test (IPT) and the results were compared with the counterimmuno electrophoresis test (CIE). FAT was found to be the most sensitive in detecting post-vaccinal antibodies followed by IPT and CIE tests.     

An epidemiological model of rinderpest. II. Simulations of the behaviour of rinderpest virus in populations

Fixed parameters for different hypothetical strains of rinderpest virus (RV) and different susceptible populations are described together with details of their derivation. Simulations were then carried out in a computer model to determine the effects that varying these parameters would have on the behaviour of RV in the different populations. The results indicated that virulent strains of RV are more likely to behave in epidemic fashion whereas milder strains tend towards persistence and the establishment of endemicity. High herd immunity levels prevent virus transmission and low herd immunity levels encourage epidemic transmission. Intermediate levels of immunity assist the establishment of endemicity. The virus is able to persist in large populations for longer than in small populations. Different vaccination strategies were also investigated. In areas where vaccination is inefficient annual vaccination of all stock may be the best policy for inducing high levels of herd immunity. In endemic areas and in herds recovering from epidemics the prevalence of clinically affected animals may be very low. In these situations veterinary officers are more likely to find clinical cases by examining cattle for mouth lesions rather than by checking for diarrhoea or high mortalities.     

Use of the caprinised strain of rinderpest virus for potency testing an attenuated cell culture rinderpest vaccine

The caprinised strain of rinderpest virus was inoculated into goats to produce a challenge stock. These goats were kept with control animals (goats, sheep, calves). In this trial the caprinised strain was shown to have a mild pathogenicity for goats and it spread to one of two contact goats but not from goats to other species. The caprinised strain was then tested on cattle where a febrile reaction was observed. The caprinised strain also did not spread between cattle. The cattle vaccinated with a freeze-dried vaccine produced from the attenuated Kabete RBKO strain on bovine kidney cells were then challenged with the caprinised strain with good results.     

Resistance of purebred and crossbred Nigerian Dwarf goats to rinderpest

Summary The responses of susceptible purebred and crossbred Nigerian Dwarf goats to caprinized rinderpest virus differed significantly. The factor responsible was probably not innate.

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Resumen La reacción de cabras susceptibles de raza pura y cruzadas al virus caprinizado de “Rinderpest” diferió considerablemente. El factor responsable probablemente no era homologo.

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Résumé Les réponses des chèvres naines de Nigéria de race pure ou de race métisse au virus caprinisé de la peste bovine ont montré des différences significatives. Le facteur responsable de ces variations n'était sans doute pas d'ordre génétique.

     

Microelisa test for detecting antibodies to rinderpest virus antigens

Summary A microplate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed which detected antibodies to a soluble antigen prepared from sonicated rinderpest virus-infected cells. The ELISA detected titres of antibody to the virus in the sera of cattle 3 weeks after immunisation with tissue culture rinderpest virus vaccine which were similar to those detected by the virus neutralisation test. The ELISA test shows potential as a rapid and economic technique for screening large numbers of sera for antibody to rinderpest virus.

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La Prueba Micro-Elisa Para Detectar Anticuerpos Producidos Por Antigenos Del Virus De Rinderpest

Resumen Se utilizó la prueba micro-ELISA para detectar anticuerpos producidos por un antígeno soluble preparado con células sonicadasinfectadas con el virus de rinderpest. La prueba ELISA detectó anticuerpos en el suero de bovinos, 3 semanas después de que éstos fueron inmunizados con la vacuna de rinderpest, preparada ésta en cultivos celulares. Los anticuerpos detectados fueron similares a los estudiados mediante la prueba de neutralización viral. La prueba ELISA se perfila como una técnica rápida y económica para trabajar un número apreciable de muestras de suero con el fin de detectar anticuerpos del virus de rinderpest.

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Un Micro-Test Elisa Pour Deceler Les Anticorps Specifiques Du Vir Us Bovipestique

Résumé Un test immuno-enzymatique (ELISA) a été mis au point déceler les anticorps correspondant à un antigène préparé par traitement aux ultra-sons de cellules infectées. Les titres sériques obtenus par cette méthode dans les sérums de bovins immunisés trois semaines auparavant avec du vaccin de culture cellulaire se sont révélés comparables à ceux obtenus par la méthode classique de séroneutralisation. Le test ELISA apparait comme un moyen rapide et économique pour rechercher les anticorps spécifiques du virus bovipestique dans des sérums en grand nombre.