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Prevalence and distribution of Peste des petits ruminants virus antibodies in various districts of Tanzania

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Abstract

Despite the widespread prevalence of infection with Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) in goats and sheep industry in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, there have been few, if any, structured population-based studies examining the epidemiology of this infection in Tanzania. In this study, we investigated the seroprevalence, and risk factors, of Peste des petitis ruminants(PPR) in sheep and goat flocks from seven different geographical administration authorities (Ngorongoro, Monduli, Longido, Karatu, Mbulu, Siha and Simanjiro) located in Northern Tanzania. Serum samples from 657 and 892 sheep and goats, respectively, corresponding to 91 sheep/goat flocks and 43 villages were collected. Competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) was used to detect the presence of antibodies in the serum against PPRV. Chi-square analysis and multivariable logistic regression model were used to identify risk factors for PPRV seropositivity. Findings suggested that the sero-positive cases were significantly higher in goats than in sheep (49.5% versus 39.8%; P = 0.002). The overall seroprevalence of PPRV infection in small ruminants was 45.8%. Highest seroprevalence (42.6–88.02%) was observed in Mbulu, Siha, Longido, Ngorongoro districts, while antibodies less than 40% to none were found in serum from Monduli, Karatu and Simanjiro, respectively. These findings confirm natural transmission of PPRV under field condition for the first time in Tanzania. Results may be correlated with variations in the sheep and goat husbandry practices within different geographic localities, the uncontrolled movement of animals, the levels of natural immunity and the sharing of grazing field amongst agro and pastoralists.

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Abbreviations

EDI:

ELISA data information

ELISA:

enzyme linked immunosorbent assay

MAb:

monoclonal antibody

OD:

Optical density

PBS:

phosphate buffered saline

PI:

percent inhibition

PPR:

Peste des petits ruminants

PPRV:

Peste des petits ruminants virus

VNT:

virus neutralization test

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Government of Tanzania, through MLD&F for financial support and farmers who gave their time to this research. CVL and VIC colleagues are acknowledged for their excellent technical assistance and cooperation in the study. Special thanks are extended to the Director, Veterinary Services, for encouragement and permission to publish this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Veterinary Investigation Centre (VIC), Box 1068, Arusha, Tanzania

    Emmanuel Senyael Swai & P. Sanka

  2. Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL), Box 9254, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania

    A. Kapaga & G. Joshua

  3. Epidemiology Unit, Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries(MLD&F), Box 9152, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania

    F. Kivaria & D. Tinuga

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  1. Emmanuel Senyael Swai
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  2. A. Kapaga
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  3. F. Kivaria
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  4. D. Tinuga
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  5. G. Joshua
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  6. P. Sanka
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Correspondence to Emmanuel Senyael Swai.

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Swai, E.S., Kapaga, A., Kivaria, F. et al. Prevalence and distribution of Peste des petits ruminants virus antibodies in various districts of Tanzania. Vet Res Commun 33, 927–936 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-009-9311-7

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