Abstract
BackgroundPeste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is a severe, highly infectious and fatal viral disease of small ruminants. Four lineages of PPR virus have been identified globally based on sequence analysis of the nucleoprotein (N) and fusion (F) gene. The aim of this study was to isolate and genetically characterize recently circulating PPR virus in small ruminants in the eastern Amhara region in Ethiopia. A total of 28 anti-mortem samples (gum debris, nasal and ocular swab) were collected from clinically suspicious animals and examined for the presence of PPRV by a one-step RT-PCR assay. Samples positive with RT-PCR were subjected to isolation of the virus which were subsequently genetically characterized by sequencing of the nucleoprotein (N) gene and phylogenetic analysis of PPR virus (PPRV) strains.ResultsOf the 28 clinical samples examined, 46.4% were positive with RT-PCR for viral nucleic acid. The PPRV was successfully isolated on CHS-20 cell line with the ovine signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) receptor expressed on the cell surface and confirmed with RT-PCR and IFAT assay. The nucleotide sequence and phylogenetic analysis indicated that the PPRV obtained were clustered genetically with Lineage IV isolates of the virus.ConclusionThe successful isolation of the virus and molecular findings of this study confirmed active lineage IV PPRV infections among populations of sheep and goats in eastern Amhara, suggesting risks for potential spread of the disease to currently free areas. Thus, we recommend systematic vaccination to contain outbreaks in affected districts and geographically linked surrounding districts to which the disease could potentially spread due to different epidemiological linkages.
Highlights
Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is a severe, highly infectious and fatal viral disease of small ruminants
While only one serotype of PPR virus (PPRV) has been identified [8], it can be classified into four distinct lineages based on partial sequence analysis of the fusion (F) and nucleoprotein (N) genes, corresponding with geographical distribution of the virus [8,9,10]
The PPRV isolates of lineage I and II have been reported in Western and Central Africa, lineage III is most prevalent in Eastern Africa and the southern part of the Middle East, whereas, the lineage IV is common in Asia [11, 12]
Summary
Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is a severe, highly infectious and fatal viral disease of small ruminants. Four lineages of PPR virus have been identified globally based on sequence analysis of the nucleoprotein (N) and fusion (F) gene. Samples positive with RT-PCR were subjected to isolation of the virus which were subsequently genetically characterized by sequencing of the nucleoprotein (N) gene and phylogenetic analysis of PPR virus (PPRV) strains. The PPRV genome consists of a single stranded RNA of negative polarity and length of 15, 948 nucleotides [6] It encodes six structural proteins, the nucleoprotein (N), the phosphoprotein (P), the matrix protein (M), the fusion protein (F), the haemagglutinin protein (H) and the large polymerase protein (L), and two non-structural proteins, V and C. While only one serotype of PPRV has been identified [8], it can be classified into four distinct lineages based on partial sequence analysis of the fusion (F) and nucleoprotein (N) genes, corresponding with geographical distribution of the virus [8,9,10]. The spread of Asian lineage IV to Central Africa, North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia), and northern part of East Africa (East Sudan and Eritrea) has been observed since the mid-2000s [13, 14]
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