TITLE:
Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Peste des Petits Ruminants among Sheep and Goats in Kassala State, Sudan
AUTHORS:
Fatima A. Saeed, Sana A. Abdel-Aziz, Mohammed M. Gumaa
KEYWORDS:
Peste des Petits Ruminants, Sero-Prevalence, Risk Factors, Kassala State, Sudan
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Animal Sciences,
Vol.8 No.4,
September
13,
2018
ABSTRACT: Peste des
petits ruminant (PPR) is a contagious disease of small ruminants caused by a
virus that belongs to the genus Morbillivirus of the family Paramyxoviridae.
This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of PPR disease in sheep and
goats and its associated risk factors in Kassala State, Eastern Sudan. Across
sectional study was conducted during the period from 30th August to 25th
November 2015. The study was carried out using a structured questionnaire survey and a total of 918
blood samples were collected from apparently healthy unvaccinated sheep and
goats in different localities in State of Kassala. A total of 546 sheep and 372 goats were tested for
specific antibodies to nucleoprotein (NP) by competitive enzyme linked
immunosorbent assay (cELISA). The apparent overall prevalence of PPR antibodies
in Kassala was 58.2% while the true prevalence was calculated to be 61.3%. The
apparent prevalence in sheep and goats was 68.1% and 43.5% respectively.
Univariate analysis showed that the risk factors had significant associations
with a cELISA positive status: locality, species, age, breed, husbandry system,
housing mode, animals movement (p = 0.000) and animals sharing pasture and
water (p = 0.003), while sex and newly introduced animals were not significant
risk factors (p = 0.771) (p = 0.050) respectively. Factors found that significantly associated
(p ; 49.3% were between
seven months and two years old and 65.5% were above two years old. In different
husbandry systems, the prevalence was 47.9%, 73.0% and 49.2% in intensive, open
grazing and pastoral systems respectively. Housing type effects were also
observed; the highest
prevalence was in animals housed in metal fence (83.3%). The movement pattern
showed significant effect, where the prevalence was the highest (81.3%) in animals
that move inter-states/inter-localities. It is concluded that the disease is
endemic in Kassala State, high prevalent in sheep and goats, posing a threat to animal
exportation, and may have a serious economic influence. Owners and herders
should compulsorily vaccinate their animals yearly and animals should be
investigated periodically for implementation of crucial eradication program.