EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STATUS OF PESTES DES PETITS RUMINANTS (PPR) VIRUS INFECTION IN SMALL RUMINANTS OF PUNJAB, INDIA.

The present study reports the seroprevalence of PPR in sheep and goat populations of the north-western Indian state of Punjab, bordering Pakistan. Serum samples (n=446) from sheep and goats were collected using random sampling software 'survey toolbox' and monoclonal antibody (MAb)-based competitive ELISA was used for the detection of antibodies to PPR virus. Risk factors associated with the prevalence of anti-PPR antibodies were analyzed. The competitive ELISA revealed an overall apparent prevalence of 55.38%. Species seroprevalence was found to be significantly higher (chi square 13.549 p<0.01) in goats (63.16%) as compared to sheep (45.73%). Further, prevalence of specific antibodies was found to increase significantly with age (chi square 60.566, p<0.01) in both the species and significantly higher (chi square 19.727, p<0.01) in females in comparison to males. Animals under grazing had significantly higher antibody prevalence (chi square 74.380, p<0.01) in comparison to stall fed ones as indicated by risk ratio (18.676). Observed higher seroprevalence of the disease in the state of Punjab shows the need for implementation of regular vaccination and restriction of interstate movements of small ruminants for effective control of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]