Neglected tropical diseases of ruminants

Abstract

Tropical diseases are those that occur principally in the tropics and by extension in subtropics. Some of them are considered neglected because these diseases persist exclusively in the poorest and the most marginalized areas of the world, where the interest of both companies and researchers is limited. There is not an official list of neglected tropical diseases affecting ruminants, but malignant catarrhal fever, foot and mouth disease, heartwater, bovine babesiosis, theileriosis, tsetse transmitted and non tsetse transmitted trypanosomosis, contagious caprine pleuropneumonia or peste des petit ruminant could be clear examples nowadays. Some initiatives, however, have been successful in terms of control and eradication of these diseases. Global Rinderpest Eradication Programme under the auspices of The Food and Agriculture Organization has achieved its eradication in 2011. Unfortunately many other tropical diseases have not received the same attention. The present chapter reviews the current status of the most important neglected tropical diseases of ruminants, including the possible control programs for the different affected areas. © 2012 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.