Pathological, serological and virological findings in goats experimentally infected with Sudanese Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) virus isolates

Abstract

Four Peste des Petits Ruminants virus (PPRV) Isolates were collected from clinical cases of three goats and one sheep from Khartoum State; Soba/Khartoum State and Bashaier/River Nile State. These PPR viruses were isolated in Lamb kidney cells (LKC) and Lamb testis cells (LTC) and identified by Agar Gel Precipitation Test (AGPT) and Hemagglutinition (HA) tests. Four PPRV isolates were used for experimental infection in four groups (n = 4) of Sudanese goats. Goats of group A and B were inoculated with the 4th passage of two Sudanese PPRV cultured in lamb testis cells, 6 × 10 TCID /ml of Bashaier and 6 × 10 TCID /ml of Soba isolates, isolated from sheep and goat respectively. Whereas, group C and D were received 6ml of the fifth passaged 20% infected tissue suspensions of Khartoum and Soba PPR isolates propagated in goats. The inoculated goats showed typical PPR clinical signs, gross lesions and histopathological changes while control animals (group E) appeared healthy. Two goats from group A died on the 16th and 19th days post inoculation. PPR viruses were detected by HA test from lacrymal fluid and nasal swabs on the 6th and 7th dpi. Serum samples were collected and tested for PPRV antibodies by C-ELISA from the sixteen experimentally infected goats and from control animals. Traces of PPRV antibodies were shown on day 7 and they were continued to rise till the 28th day and dropped on the 30th day which is the 9th day post challenge. The observed clinical signs, post mortem lesions and the detectable antibodies indicated that the tissue culture propagated PPR viruses and the infected tissue homogenate were effective for initiation of infection. Key words: PPRV isolates, tissue culture virus, goat adapted virus, experimental infection, immune response.