Epidemiological investigation of the peste des petitis ruminants outbreaks in Tumkur district, Karnataka, India.

Abstract

In this study, epidemiological investigation of the three outbreaks of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in goats and sheep flocks with high morbidity and considerable mortality were recorded at Tumkur District, Karnataka, India during 2012-2013. Clinical samples were collected from the affected flocks/villages for laboratory investigation along with epidemiological parameters. The PPR virus (PPRV) antigen and nucleic acid was detected in the infected tissues/swab materials by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction techniques (RT-PCR) and PPRV-specific antibodies were detected by competitive ELISA and indirect ELISA in serum samples. The PPR virus was isolated successfully in Vero cells after initial adaptation, and its identity was confirmed by RT-PCR assays. The significant epidemiological parameters observed were: young animals aged between 6 month to one year were severely affected than adult animals, which showed only few symptoms pertaining to PPR; changing pattern of disease in term of severity of gross lesions was observed in affected animals; source of infection was the introduction or purchase of animals from other source; etc. Given the importance of PPR and high productivity losses in small ruminants, outbreaks of the disease need to be carefully monitored, in spite of vaccination of the sheep and goats is undergoing under the National control programme on PPR.