The Spread of Peste Des Petits Ruminants Virus Lineage IV in West Africa

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Samples collected from goats and sheep in four West African countries (i.e., Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Guinea) were screened for the presence of peste des petits ruminants viruses. Positive amplicons were sequenced and shown to belong to both Lineages II and IV. This is the first time that Lineage IV has been reported in all four countries. ABSTRACT: Monitoring the transboundary spread of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) virus is an essential part of the global efforts towards the eradication of PPR by 2030. There is growing evidence that Lineage IV is becoming the predominant viral lineage, replacing Lineage I and II in West Africa. As part of a regional investigation, samples collected in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea and Ghana were screened for the presence of PPRV. A segment of the nucleoprotein gene from positive samples was sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis revealed the co-circulation of Lineage II and IV in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea, and the identification of Lineage IV in Ghana. These data will be of importance to local and regional authorities involved in the management of PPRV spread.