How is rinderpest transmitted?

The virus spread via droplets, so that animals got infected by inhaling sick animals’ breath, secretions or excretions. Rinderpest was a so-called dead-end disease for wild herds as their low population density inhibited the disease spread.

What is the causative agent of rinderpest?

Rinderpest is a highly contagious viral disease that affects even-toed ungulates of the order Artiodactyla, primarily domestic and wild bovids. The causative agent is Rinderpest virus (RPV), which belongs to the genus Morbillivirus of the family Paramyxoviridae (55).

What are the symptoms of rinderpest?

Signs of rinderpest may include:

• grain-like bumps in the nostrils and inside the lips and cheeks that often develop into ulcers.
• discharge of watery mucus from eyes and nostrils, occasionally including blood.
• rapid breathing.
• reduced milk production in cows.
• loss of appetite.
• fever.

What is the treatment for rinderpest diseases?

There is no known treatment for rinderpest virus infection; this, combined with the high rates of illness, accounts for the devastating nature of the disease. As soon as an outbreak is suspected, animals that were exposed to others with rinderpest must be quarantined.

How long did it take to eradicate rinderpest?

The FAO, which had been co-ordinating the global eradication program for the disease, announced in November 2009 that it expected the disease to be eradicated within 18 months.

What diseases does orthomyxoviruses cause?

The orthomyxoviruses (influenza viruses) constitute the genus Orthomyxovirus, which consists of three types (species): A, B, and C. These viruses cause influenza, an acute respiratory disease with prominent systemic symptoms.

What disease is caused by paramyxovirus commonly called?

Measles is caused by a single-stranded, enveloped RNA virus with 1 serotype. It is classified as a member of the genus Morbillivirus in the Paramyxoviridae family. Humans are the only natural hosts of measles virus.

Does rinderpest still exist?

In 2015, although natural infections in animals have been eradicated, live rinderpest virus, vaccines, and genetic material remain stored in scientific institutes across the world.

Did rinderpest affect humans?

Rinderpest is not known to infect humans, but its effect on cattle and other animals has had a tremendous impact on human livelihoods and food security, due to its ability to wipe out entire herds of cattle in a matter of days.

Is foot and mouth disease fatal for cattle?

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) or hoof-and-mouth disease (HMD) is an infectious and sometimes fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including domestic and wild bovids.

What does orthomyxoviridae look like?

Orthomyxoviridae form enveloped, spherical or pleomorphic virions with 80–120 nm in diameter. Their linear, negative-sense RNA genome has a total length of 10–15 kb and is divided into eight (IAV, IBV) and seven (ICV, IDV) segments, respectively.

How is rinderpest virus transmitted?

Rinderpest virus is shed in nasal and ocular secretions and can be transmitted during the incubation period (1–2 days before onset of fever). Transmission required direct or close indirect contact between susceptible animals and sick animals shedding the virus.

What is rinderpest in cattle?

Rinderpest was a disease of cloven-hoofed animals characterized by fever, necrotic stomatitis, gastroenteritis, lymphoid necrosis, and high mortality. In epidemic form, it was the most lethal plague known in cattle.

Is rinderpest now completely eradicated?

Rinderpest has now been eradicated. Rinderpest is the first animal disease to have been eradicated. Small pox in humans is the only other disease that has achieved the same status. For more information see FAO website.

How is rinderpest diagnosed?

It is recommended that post-eradication laboratory diagnosis of rinderpest focus on molecular techniques (such as RT-PCR), which are not only accurate but also allow for phylogenetic analysis to pinpoint the source of any re-emerging virus strain.