Rinderpest and Peste des Petits Ruminants tells the story of how, by the year 2010, scientists are set to globally eradicate one of the great historic plagues that has ravaged human livestock for centuries. Descriptions of the disease in Europe date back to the 4th century and it was regularly re-introduced following wars and other civil unrest until late in the 19th century. It was introduced with devastating effect into Africa towards the end of the 19th century and is now widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Southern Asia. Its causative agent, rinderpest virus, a morbillivirus very closely related to human measles virus, decimates the cattle population along with those of other susceptible domestic ruminants and many wildlife species wherever it is present.

• The history of Rinderpest including the history of vaccines and vaccination
• Details other Morbillaviruses
• Epidemiology and transmission of Rinderpest

Dr Taylor has had a long and distinguished career in veterinary medicine, much of it devoted to eliminating rinderpest. His early work concentrated on rinderpest and PPR pathogenesis and epidemiology in Africa. Later he developed a vaccine for PPR at Pirbright Laboratory and then went on to become the EU advisor for the rinderpest eradication campaign in India. He now acts as a freelance consultant for the FAO, mainly investigating rinderpest and PPR outbreaks.

PrefaceGeneral IntroductionRinderpest, An Old Worldwide StoryRinderpest in AfricaThe MorbillivirusesRinderpest and Peste des Petits Ruminants VirusesThe DiseaseEpidemiology and Transmission of RinderpestRinderpest and Wildlife, A ControversyImmunology of Rinderpest: An Immunosuppression but a Lifelong Protection Old Prophylactic MethodsHistory of Vaccines and VaccinationNew Generation Vaccines Against Rinderpest and Peste des Petits RuminantsTowards Eradication of RinderpestConclusionsGlossaryIndexIndex of the Key Players in the History of Rinderpest ResearchKey References List