Seroprevalence study of peste des petits ruminants in sheep and goats in the northern region of India

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 (χ(2)=252.28, p<0.01) and sheep (χ(2)=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.