Peste-des-Petits Ruminants (PPR) : Treatment & Control Measures
Peste des petits ruminants is an acute or sub acute viral disease of goats and sheep characterized by pyrexia, erosive stomatitis, conjunctivitis, gastroenteritis and pneumonia. The name is French for “disastrous disease of small ruminants”. Goats are usually more severely affected than sheep. It is a paramyxovirus of the genus morbillivirus. It is antigenically very similar to the Rinderpest virus. Peste des petits ruminants was reported in parts of sub- Saharan Africa for several decades and in the Middle East and southern Asia since 1993. It has been reported in Sudan, Kenya Uganda and Ethiopia. In India, PPR was first confirmed in March 1987 in sheep suspected of having rinderest. It is now believed that many outbreaks in India previously attributed to rinderpest were actually PPR (Taylor, 2002) . The disease is particularly devastating as these countries often use small ruminants as components of agricultural food production (EMPRES, 1999).
About this disease
Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is also recognized as ‘goat plague’, ‘Kata’, ‘syndrome of stomatitis-pneumoenteritis’ or ‘ovine rinderpest’ (Parida S. et al, 2015). The disease Peste des petitsruminants (PPR) is an extremely spreadable and it is liable for high illness and even causes death in sheep and goats. The family of PPRV is Paramyxoviridae with genus Morbillivirus. Measles virus, rinderpest virus, canine distemper virus, phocine distemper virus and dolphine and porpoise morbilliviruses are all related to Morbilliviruses. Virus neutralization test (VNT) is a test recommended for the recognition of PPRV antibody; it is tedious and costly and needs infectious virus. So VNT is not ideally suggested as a daily procedure. Many competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (c-ELISAs) have been known as appropriate diagnostic tool and utilized for sero epidemiological surveillance as they are easy, highly sensitive as well as economical (Abubakar et al, 2009). Some other diseases including rinderpest, bluetongue and contagious caprinepleuro pneumonia, can be misunderstood with Peste des petits ruminants due to the resemblance of clinical sign and symptoms of these diseases.There is a chance of secondary bacterial infections that makes the diagnosis of the disease complicated, so laboratory diagnostic techniques used in addition with clinical observations to confirmed diagnosis. There are three categories in which laboratory test that are currently available can be grouped for diagnosis:
(i)test based on the detection of virus or viral antigen (ii) test based on the detection of genetic material from the virus and (iii) test based on the detection of antibodies against the virus (Parida S. et al, 2015).
- It is an acute highly contagious viral disease of small ruminants characterized by fever, loss of appetite, stomatitis, gastroenteritis and pneumonitis.
- The disease is markedly evident in goat and sheep are less susceptible.
Causes
- The disease is caused by Moribillivirus of Paramyxoviridae family.
- Natural transmission occurs primarily through direct contact with infected sheep and goat.
- Transmission may take place through contaminated food, water, beddings and other appliances.
- Secretions and excretions are rich source of virus and spread of the disease take place through their contamination. Faeces are the main spreading agent and through it the disease may occur in epidemic proportion.
- The disease may spread in a flock through introduction of newly purchased sick animal from market.
- There is no carrier state in animals; the spread of the disease is possible through animals with subclinical infection.
- Ingestion of infected material is the main way of transmission but it may also take place through inhalation and contact with ocular secretions.
- The disease is not transmitted through insect vectors.
- Wild ruminants have been suspected to play a role in the spreading of this disease.
Clinical symptoms
- High rise of temperature (104 to 105 ˙F).
- The animal will show dull coat, dry muzzle and inappetance.
- There will be profuse serous nasal discharge accompanied by sneezing and coughing.
- The discharge may be crust like, hard and matt the nasal and ocular surroundings.
- Oral necrotic lesions noticed in lips, buccal mucosae, gums, dental palate & tongue, with malodour (halitosis).
- Congestion of conjunctival mucous membranes and matting of eye lids.
- Signs of pneumonia and animal may die due to respiratory distress.
- Diarrhoeic faeces may contain mucus and blood.
- Pregnant goat may abort.
- Most of the animals recover and death may occur in few of them.
Suggested first aid
- Separation of sick animals should be made.
- Adequate rest to the affected animal.
- Affected animals should be fed with porridge made of rice, ragi and kambu.
- Apply glycerin or animal fat on the ulcers.
- Immediate consultation should be made to the nearest qualified veterinary doctor for antibiotic treatment.
- Animals should not be allowed for grazing.
- Ulcers in the mouth can be treated with saline water or dissolve 1g of Potassium permanganate in 1 liter of water and wash the mouth 2 to 3 times per day with this solution.
- Contact your nearest Veterinary Assistant Surgeons for further advice regarding the antibiotic administration or symptomatic treatment to be given to the affected animals.
- Contact nearest Veterinary Assistant Surgeons for ring vaccination in the event of outbreak of disease.
General control and prevention management
- Regular and proper vaccination of animals.
- Vaccination Schedule
| First vaccination at | Next vaccination at | Month of vaccination | Dose |
| 3 months age | Once in a year |
- Strict sanitation and hygienic measures are to be adopted in a flock. It is susceptible to most disinfectants, e.g. phenol, sodium hydroxide (2%).
- Restriction should be made for introduction of new animals in a flock especially in areas where the disease is prevalent.
- Sick animals bought from market should not be introduced without observation for a definite period.
- Sick animals should be segregated and treated with serum along with conservative management.
- Quarantine measures should be strictly attended in imported sheep and goat before introduction.
Compiled & Shared by- Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development) Image-Courtesy-Google Reference-On Request.
