Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia

Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) is one of the most severe diseases of goats. This disease, which affects the respiratory tract, is extremely contagious and frequently fatal; in some naive flocks, the morbidity and mortality rates may reach 100%. CCPP causes major economic losses in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, where it is endemic. Definitive diagnosis can be difficult, as the causative agent is one of the most fastidious mycoplasmas and can be missed during routine bacteriological analysis. CCPP is now known to also affect some species of exotic ungulates. This has raised concerns for zoos and for the conservation of some endangered species exposed to goats