Influence of Worm Infection on Immunopathological Effect of Mycoplasma Capricolum Capripneumoniae Pathogen in Goats

Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, caused by Mycoplasma capricolum capripneumoniae (Mccp), is a highly contagious disease of goats usually with a high morbidity and mortality in naïve goats and a major threat to food security. Twenty four goats were used to investigate the influence of nematode infection on immunopathological responses to live Mccp antigens. Twelve goats in two groups of six (Group E1 without and E2with detectable helminthes), were inoculated intratracheally with Mccp organisms. The remaining 12 goats, six in each group, (F1 without and F2 with detectable helminthes) were used for contact transmission investigation. Clinical observations and records were done daily at 8.30 AM, blood for sera analysis was collected weekly, while pathological data was collected at postmortem. Analysis of variance and Tukey Honest Significant Difference, a post hoc test, were performed using R statistical packages (Rx64 3.2.4 revised). The results showed that red and gray lung consolidations were significantly different statistically (p< 0.05) thus corresponding to the observed clinical signs, fibrin deposition along with pleural effusions in nematode infected groups. There was a high morbidity in group E2 (4/6) compared to E1 (1/6) that necessitated euthanasia for welfare reasons. Fibrous adhesion, a sign of chronic disease was more pronounced in none helminthes infected groups though not statistically significant (p> 0.05). Evidence from this study indicates that worm infection impacts negatively on immune response to microbial infection and the resultant pathological picture. Thus we recommend that deworming exercise should be carried out, where feasible, prior to planned vaccination campaigns.