Serological Detection of Antibodies to Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus in Large Ruminants.

M Abubakar,A C Banyard,E H Khan,M Mahapatra,M J Arshed,S Parida,Q Ali,M Muniraju

doi:10.1111/tbed.12392

Abstract

SummaryPeste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an economically important disease of small ruminants with a rapidly expanding geographical distribution. Peste des petits ruminants virus may manifest in a variety of ways with disease ranging from acute to subclinical. We investigated the exposure of large ruminants to PPRV in areas where the virus is endemic in the small ruminant population by assessing the serological status of groups of animals. This study focused on the Punjab province of Pakistan as an area where the virus is endemic and where mixed farming practices occur enabling close interactions between small and large ruminant populations. An overall PPR seropositivity was detected in 10.0% of cattle and 14.16% of buffaloes. Following an assessment of serological profiles in large ruminants within different age groups, a maximum seroprevalence was observed in cattle (17.5%) and buffaloes (22.5%) over 2 years of age indicating the potential utility of sampling large ruminant populations for PPR serosurveillance. The large ruminants sampled between one and two years of age had similar levels of seropositivity within populations with 11.2% and 16.2% of animals being seropositive, respectively. Current PPR vaccination strategies do not enable the differentiation between infected and vaccinated small ruminants, and as such, the serological surveillance of sheep and goats is of little value. When considering eradication programmes for PPRV, this factor is of great significance. However, where large and small ruminants are farmed together, serological surveillance of large ruminants may provide a snapshot of virus infection within populations where mild disease is present or where small ruminants are regularly vaccinated.

Highlights

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious and acute viral disease of sheep and goats that causes great economic losses due to the high levels of morbidity and mortality often observed
PPR virus (PPRV) Serosurveillance in Pakistan bakar et al, 2011) and has recently been reported in areas previously thought to be free of the disease including Algeria, Morocco, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sierra Leone and Tajikistan (De Nardi et al, 2012; WAHID Interface, 2011; Wang et al, 2009; Munir et al, 2012; Kwiatek et al, 2007; Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 2013; Banyard et al, 2014)
The main aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of PPRV in cattle and buffalo populations in an agro-ecologically defined area of Punjab in Pakistan where PPR is endemic in small ruminant populations

Summary

Introduction

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious and acute viral disease of sheep and goats that causes great economic losses due to the high levels of morbidity and mortality often observed. Alongside causing devastating disease outbreaks, the virus is able to circulate within small ruminant populations subclinically, often making detection very difficult. This feature of PPRV infection makes serological assessment of circulating virus problematic, especially where small ruminant populations have been vaccinated as the serological differentiation between vaccinated and naturally infected animals is not currently possible (Sen et al, 2010). The highly contagious nature of PPRV and the distribution and movement of small ruminants creates a serious transboundary problem, inhibiting trade and heightening economic losses in affected areas, where small ruminants are often more important than cattle in food production (Banyard et al, 2010)

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