PPR Virus
Dr. Savita Kumari
Department of Veterinary Microbiology
Bihar Veterinary College, BASU, Patna
Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) virus
Causes severe disease, PPR in small ruminants,
particularly sheep and goats
Also referred to as goat plague, Ovine rinderpest, kata,
syndrome of stomatitis-pneumoenteritis
FAO and OIE use the French name "peste des petits
ruminants"
Caused by morbillivirus, peste des petits ruminants virus
(PPRV), which is closely related to other members of
genus
Grouped into four distinct lineages based on the
sequence of the F protein, but there is only one serotype
High morbidity and high mortality rates
Transmission
Close contact with infected animals is required
occurs by aerosols
carrier state not known, subclinical infection occurs
Virus is excreted for several days before the onset of
significant clinical signs, facilitates spread of infection
disease is generally more severe in goats
Different breeds of goat show different morbidity rates
course of disease is generally more severe in young
animals
Pathogenesis
After entering into the organism, it multiplies first in the
oropharynx and local lymphoid tissues
Infection of immune cells, target for virus multiplication
Subsequent viremia, leukopenia, and systemic infection
Principally involving lymphocytes, macrophages,
dendritic cells, and the epithelial cells lining the
alimentary tract
Mucosal erosions and profuse diarrhoea are features of
the condition
During the acute phase of the disease, virus is shed in all
secretions and excretions
Clinical signs
In goats, a febrile response occurs at 2-8 days after infection
The disease is particularly severe in young animals
Affected goats exhibit fever, anorexia, dry muzzle and a serous nasal
discharge which becomes mucopurulent
Erosions on mucous membrane of buccal cavity accompanied by
marked salivation
Necrotic stomatitis and gingivitis
Ulcers develop in the mucosae of the alimentary, respiratory and
urinary tracts
Conjunctivitis with ocular discharge is a feature of the disease
Profuse diarrhoea- results in dehydration within days of infection
Signs of tracheitis and pneumonia are common
..
Severe leukopenia facilitates
secondary bacterial infection
Pulmonary infections caused by
Pasteurella sp. common in the later
stages of the disease
Pregnant animals may abort
Mortality rates in severe outbreaks >70%
Acutely affected goats may die within
ten days of exposure
The course of the disease may be:
- peracute, acute, or chronic,
depending on strain of virus, age, immune
status, and breed of host purulent eye and nose discharges
In sheep
Infection with PPRV is subacute
Characterized by:
- fever
- nasal catarrh
- mucosal erosions
- intermittent diarrhoea
Affected animals usually recover after ten to 14 days
Lesions
Extensive erosions and necrosis in the mucosal lining of the oral cavity,
esophagus, abomasum, and small intestine
Bran-like deposits-discrete tiny necrotic ulceration or foci in the mucous
membrane
Regional lymph nodes enlarged
Interstitial pneumonia
In the posterior part of colon and rectum,
discontinuous streaks of congestion
(“Zebra” stripes or “Zebra markings”) Early pale, grey areas of dead cells on the
gums
on the mucosal folds are observed,
which are typical of PPR
The membrane lining the mouth is
“zebra striping" in large
Lesions of pneumonia completely obscured by a thick
intestine (lines of haemorrhage)
cheesy material
Diagnosis
Specimens in acute phase of the disease
Suitable specimens include nasal and ocular swabs, unclotted
blood and scrapings of buccal and rectal mucosae
Samples of lung, spleen and lymph node from animals
slaughtered early in the course of the disease
Laboratory confirmation:
Virus isolation in tissue culture
antigen detection - ELISA, immunoelectrophoresis and agar
gel immunodiffusion
Antibodies detection- virus neutralization, ELISA
PCR
Control
Slaughter policies, movement restrictions apply in countries
free from PPR
Quarantine and vaccination are used in regions where
the disease is endemic
Live-attenuated vaccine (Sungri strain)
The first PPR control vaccination trials were done with
Rinderpest vaccine
A global eradication programme developed by the Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World
Organisation for Animal Health
-have set the goal of eradicating PPR by 2030
PPR Vaccine
Currently, 6 Attenuated PPR Vaccine strains are available:
PPRV Nigeria 75/1 (Nigeria, lineage II, goat origin)
PPR Sungri 96 (India, Lineage IV; goat origin)
Arasur 87 (India, lineage IV; sheep origin)
Coimbatore 97 (India, lineage IV; goat origin)
Titu (Bangladesh, lineage IV; goat origin)
45G37/35-K PPR Vaccine (Kazakhstan)