Distribution and Seroprevalence of PPR Virus in Chad During 2004 - 2014

Abstract

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an acute febrile viral disease of goats and sheep characterized by mucopurulent nasal and ocular discharge, erosive and necrotizing stomatitis, enteritis and pneumonia. It is widespread, virulent and devastating causing significant impacts to the economy, food security and livelihoods of poor marginalized farmers. This study focused on clinical observations of 233 suspected cases of PPR and provided detailed information on the prevalence of antibodies against the PPR virus in sera from 986 small ruminants and 31 from camels. Most of specimens for this study were obtained from the slaughterhouse in N'Djamena. Sera for the detection of antibodies against the PPR virus were not necessarily representative of the target population, even if they were from a larger number of regions. According to information provided by the epidemiological surveillance field agents, the foci of the disease were more severe in goats than in sheep and the outbreaks frequency was higher during the Cold dry season (December to June) than during the other months of the year. Analysis of 1017 sera collected in small ruminants and camels revealed that the prevalence of antibodies against the PPR virus was 34.48%. The prevalence of antibodies against the PPR virus varied by species (goats, 15.21%, sheep, 19.25% and camels, 0%), age groups and geographic areas. The rate of infection by the PPR virus was higher in the sheep population (34. 67%) than in goats (27.37%). The study showed seroprevalence higher in sheep than in goats. In contrast, no serum from camels revealed positive vis-à-vis the PPR virus. Another serological survey would need to be undertaken in the population of camels in order to clarify their role in the epidemiology of PPR.