The Effect of Some Climatic Factors on the Incidence of Caprine Pleuropneumonia in the Sultanate of Oman

Abstract

Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) is an economically important mycoplasmal disease of goats with a wide geographical distribution. Apart from inducing cold stress, low temperatures may extend the life of disease-causing organisms, increase the tendency of animals to huddle together, thereby decreasing ventilation. These factors in combination can favour an increased level of airborne microbials, thus increasing the chances of disease outbreak. Dry weather on the other hand, which tends to be associated with more light, reduces the risk of spread of disease because of rapid evaporation and more ultraviolet radiation which can lead to the inactivation of disease agents such as mycoplasmas.