Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia. A review.

The prevalence, characteristics of the aetiological agent, clinical signs, pathological changes, pathogenesis, epizootiology, microbiological and serological diagnosis, prevention, and control of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides SC.type, are reviewed. New aspects of the disease are discussed. A renewed interest in this disease is important because of outbreaks in Southern Europe since 1980. When, at the end of 1992, the national borders of the countries of the European Community are abolished, it is conceivable that the disease will be introduced by cattle imported into CBPP-free countries.