Rinderpest virus (micro-organism)

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Taxonomic name: Rinderpest virus Synonyms: Common names: cattle plague (English) Organism type: micro-organism Rinderpest virus is a species of morbillivirus causing cattle plague, a highly fatal viral disease of domestic cattle, buffaloes and yaks. It also affects sheep, goats, some breeds of pigs and a large variety of wildlife species. Although humans are not susceptible to Rinderpest, famine devastates human populations dependant on cattle and buffalo for their food and livelihood. Mass vaccinations over the last century have greatly reduced outbreaks of Rinderpest. The Global Rinderpest Eradication Program (GREP), which was established in 1987 by the United Nation's FAO to develop strategies of control in high risk countries, will lead to the total eradication of the Rinderpest virus by 2010. Description Rinderpest virus belongs to the morbillivirus genus in the Paramyxoviridae family. The genome of the virus is a single stranded, non-segmented RNA which codes for six structural proteins and two non-structural proteins. Small amounts of virus are able to resist temperatures of 56°C/60 min or 60°C/30 min. Rinderpest virus is stable between pH 4.0 and 10.0. It is susceptible to lipid solvents, most common disinfectants and can remain viable for long time periods in frozen or chilled tissue (OIE Aetiology, 2002). Occurs in: host Habitat description Rinderpest infection is via the epithelium of the upper or lower respiratory tract. Rinderpest virus has no carrier state. Shedding of the virus starts a day or two before pyrexia (a rise in temperature of the body- a sign of infection) in tears, nasal secretions, saliva, urine and faeces, blood and all tissues are infectious even before the appearance of clinical signs (OIE Epidemiology, 2002). General impacts Rinderpest outbreaks devastate livestock farming, food security, rural incomes and international trade. (EMPRES, 2002) Notes Rinderpest can pass between cattle and wildlife, but once the virus is eliminated from cattle it dies out naturally in wildlife (EMPRES, 2002).Four forms of rinderpest can occur: the classic form which goes through the four stages of an incubation period of 3-15 days, a febrile (feverish) phase followed by congestion of the mucous membrane and the phase when gastrointestinal signs appear; the peracute form which occurs in newborn and young animals; a subacute form which has a low mortality rate and where the clinal signs are limited and the atypical form where there is mild or no diarrheoa and irregular fever. Clinical diagnositic details are described in detail by OIE Diagnosis, (2002). Geographical range Rinderpest dates back 9,000 years with infected cattle in Asia. Historically the virus was widely distributed throughout Europe, Africa, Asia and West Asia, but never became established in either the Americas or Australia/New Zealand. Rinderpest is an OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) List A disease. Today, concentrated surveillance for rinderpest outbreaks is conducted throughout the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. The OIE in their updates have provided lists of Countries or zones self-declared provisionally free from rinderpest and Countries officially free from rinderpest infection (May 2003). A global geographical distribution by year and region can be viewed at the OIEs animal disease geographic distribution webpage. Introduction pathways to new locations Ignorant possession: Live food trade: Infected cattle can be exported using unofficial trade routes Transportation of domesticated animals: Local dispersal methods Consumption/excretion: Escape from confinement: Cattle getting through fences Hikers' clothes/boots: People sharing resources (local): Management information Preventative measures: There is no treatment for rinderpest once an animal is infected.. Prevention involves following sanitatary practices in case of infection: isolation of sick animals, slaughtering, destruction of slaughtered animals, disinfection and maintaining protected free zones.Vaccination and annual revaccination is recommended. Surveillance is important in identifying infections and preventing spread (OIE Prevention and Control, 2002). The Global Rinderpest Eradication Programme (GREP) aims at eliminating rinderpest from the world by the year 2010. Active disease surveillance programmes confirm the elimination of the infection and disease statitically. Strategies devised to bring down the level of incidence to zero include early warning, early reaction, contingency planning and a national committment to the OIE pathway (the internationally accepted timetable for the route to eradication) (EMPRES, 2002). Nutrition The virus grows on healthy cells in a susceptible host, causing disease. Reproduction The Rinderpest virus self-replicates on cells in the host. Lifecycle stages Rinderpest has an incubation period in the host of 3-15 days. The host will either recover of die within days. If the animal dies, the virus dies also, for it cannot survive long outside of the protection of the host. This species has been nominated as among 100 of the "World's Worst" invaders Reviewed by: Major update under progress Prof. M. S. Shaila. Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Indian Institute of Science. India Principal sources: OIE, World Organisation for Animal Health, 2003. Compiled by: IUCN/SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) To contribute information, please contact Shyama Pagad. Last Modified: Thursday, 6 April 2006