Objective:
The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, geographical distribution, and main risk factors for peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in the Republic of Chad.
Materials and methods:
A total of 3,546 sera collected from unvaccinated small ruminants including 1,699 goats and 1,847 sheep in 19 of the 23 regions in Chad were randomly sampled. The competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technics were used for serological analysis.
Results:
The overall seroprevalence at the individual level was 52.9%±1.6% (48.9% for goats and 56.2% for sheep). Seroprevalence observed in the Chari Baguirmi, Ouaddaï, and N’Djamena regions was significantly higher than those in the other regions. Transhumant herds are the most exposed than the sedentary ones. Older animals were more affected than the young ones. Kababich sheep are the most affected than other breeds.
Conclusion:
This study has shown that the PPR virus is circulating in the Republic of Chad. In view of the results obtained, the disease is enzootic in the country. Epidemiological information obtained including seroprevalence rate, risk factors (sex, breed, age, and mode of rearing), and geographical distribution will help to define an appropriate strategy for PPR control in the Republic of Chad.
Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an infectious, contagious and inoculable disease. It is widely distributed in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. It was described for the first time in Côte d'Ivoire by Gargadennec and Lalanne in 1942. This pathology, similar to rinderpest at the clinical and antigenic level, reveals a capital and growing importance and constitutes a brake on the development of the breeding of small ruminants because the economic losses are considerable (morbidity is 100% and mortality 90%). The pathogen is a virus belonging to the genus Morbillivirus, the family Paramyxoviridae. This widespread and devastating disease of small ruminants causes very significant losses to the economy, food security and the livelihoods of pastoralists. Globally, it is one of the priority diseases indicated in the five-year of global action plan of the FAO-OIE Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Diseases (GF-TADs). The Republic of Chad, like other countries has joined this line with an ambition of its eradication by 2025. The existence of PPR in Chad has been demonstrated for a long time, but no data exists for the moment on the factors of its introduction and spread in the country. This article describes the main factors behind its introduction and spread in the country.
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