Seroprevalence study of peste des petits ruminants in sheep and goats in the northern region of India

Research (Published online: 13-08-2020)

12. Seroprevalence study of peste des petits ruminants in sheep and goats in the northern region of India

Vinayagamurthy Balamurugan, Bibitha Varghese, Kirubakaran Vinod Kumar, Dhanavelu Muthuchelvan, R. Dheeraj, Gurrappanaidu Govindaraj, Kuralayanapalya Puttahonnappa Suresh, Divakar Hemadri and Parimal Roy

Veterinary World, 13(8): 1573-1580

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a contagious, World Organization for Animal Health notifiable, economically important, transboundary morbilliviral disease of sheep and goats. Studying seroprevalence of PPR from different geographical areas under varying agro-climatic conditions may help in formulating effective and appropriate disease control strategies under the ongoing national PPR control program. The present cross-sectional study describes the prevalence of PPR virus antibodies in sheep and goats in the various epidemiological units in different states (Haryana, Himachal Pradesh [HP], Jammu and Kashmir [J&K], Punjab, Uttarakhand [UK], and Uttar Pradesh [UP]) of the northern region of India.

Materials and Methods: A total of 5843 serum samples (sheep [n=2463] and goats [n=3380]) were collected by stratified random sampling method from 322 epidemiological units in the studied region during 2017-2018 and tested for PPR virus (PPRV) antibodies by competitive ELISA.

Results: The results revealed that an overall seroprevalence of 44.05% (2574/5843) with 57.32%, 55.22%, 65.69%, 37.09%, 32.73%, and 29.35% prevalence of PPRV antibodies in small ruminants in Haryana, Punjab, UP, HP, J&K, and UK states, respectively. Further, Chi-squared test revealed an association of PPRV antibodies in goats (χ2=252.28, p<0.01) and sheep (χ2=192.12, p<0.01) across different states in the region.

Conclusion: The seroprevalence in majority of the epidemiological units (n=130) in sheep and goats in the studied region had <30%. This necessitates comprehensive, rigorous, continuous vaccination and active surveillance programs for few more years to achieve the desired 70% seroprevalence level of PPRV antibodies in population and to make the northern region of India, as PPR free zone.

Keywords: cross-sectional study, India, northern region, peste des petits ruminants, seroprevalence, sheep and goats.