doi: www.doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2020.1573-1580
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Article history: Received: 13-03-2020, Accepted: 18-06-2020, Published online: 13-08-2020
Corresponding author: Vinayagamurthy Balamurugan
E-mail: b.vinayagamurthy@icar.gov.in
Citation: Balamurugan V, Varghese B, Kumar KV, Muthuchelvan D, Dheeraj R, Govindaraj G, Suresh KP, Hemadri D, Roy P (2020) Seroprevalence study of peste des petits ruminants in sheep and goats in the northern region of India, Veterinary World, 13(8): 1573-1580.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.