Evidence of peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) infection in Sindh Ibex (Capra aegagrus blythi) in Pakistan as confirmed by detection of antigen and antibody

Abstract

An outbreak resulting in mortality in Sindh Ibex (Capra aegagrus blythi) was investigated. There was a history of about 36 deaths (both young and adult) during the period of 1 month. Disease appeared in a generalized form, affecting the respiratory and digestive systems. Major lesions were respiratory distress, pustules on and in the mouth, ocular-nasal discharges, and severe diarrhea. The most significant lesion was the oculonasal discharges and diarrhea. Deaths were mainly due to blindness, anorexia, diarrhea, and respiratory arrest. Both adult (mortality = 21) and young (mortality = 15) animals were affected with the disease. Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) antigen was detected in the spleen, lung, lymph node, and swab samples by immunocapture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Spleen and lung samples were also tested and found positive for the presence of F-gene of PPRV by polymerase chain reaction. Thirteen of 20 serum samples from nearby sheep and goats were found positive for antibodies to PPRV. The disease threatened the huge population of ibex in the wild life park, which was spread over a large area, but vaccination of the domestic population of sheep and goats in the surrounding villages appeared to control the disease.

Evolutionary genetics underlying the spread of peste des petits ruminants virus

“…In southwest Asia, it spread to China (Tibet Autonomous Region) in 2007 (Bao et al, 2008), the Maldives in 2009, and Bhutan in 2010. In Asia, the impact of PPR has increased in the last decade to such a point that regular epizootic activities resulted in spillovers in the wild population and large die-offs among different wild species, some of them being endangered, notably bharal in Tibet (Bao et al, 2011(Bao et al, , 2012, ibex in Pakistan (Abubakar et al, 2011), and wild goats in Kurdistan (Hoffmann et al, 2012). All events were related to PPR-infected livestock.…”

Future research to underpin successful peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) eradication

“…Infection of wild sheep/goats [28][29][30] and other wild and domestic ruminants (cattle, buffalo, gazelle and wildebeest) have been reported [31][32][33][34], as well as camels [35] and recently even dogs [36]. If confirmed and shown to be relevant from a transmission perspective, such observations would be very important due to the continued existence of transhumance and pastoralism amongst sheep and goat herders.…”

Seroprevalence and risk factors for peste des petits ruminants and selected differential diagnosis in sheep and goats in Tanzania

“…Wild ruminants have been shown to carry PPRV and several species can develop clinical signs of PPR [28,31,32]. Whether interaction or proximity between livestock and wildlife in general, and wild ruminants in particular, is an important risk factor for exposure to PPRV has not yet been determined.…”