History and current status of peste des petits ruminants virus in Tanzania

Abstract

Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) causes the acute, highly contagious disease peste des petits ruminants (PPR) that affects small domestic and wild ruminants. PPR is of importance in the small livestock-keeping industry in Tanzania, especially in rural areas as it is an important source of livelihood. Morbidity and case fatality rate can be as high as 80–100% in naïve herds; however, in endemic areas, morbidity and case fatality range between 10 and 100% where previous immunity, age, and species of infected animal determine severity of outcome. PPR was officially confirmed in domestic animals in the Ngorongoro district of Tanzania in 2008. It is now considered to be endemic in the domestic sheep and goat populations throughout Tanzania, but restricted to one or more areas in the small ruminant wildlife population. In this article, we review the history and the current status of PPR in Tanzania and neighboring countries. To control and eradicate PPR in the region, a joint effort between these countries needs to be undertaken. The effort must also secure genuine engagement from the animal holders to succeed.

• small ruminants
• sheep
• goats
• morbillivirus
• peste des petits ruminants
• East Africa

Acknowledgements

Research on PPRV in JJW, MB, and GM laboratories is supported by grants from the Swedish Research Council (Grant 348-2013-6402 and 348-2014-4293) and the Wellcome Trust (Grant WT087546MA) to the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) at Sokoine University of Agriculture. The authors thank Emmanuel Sadikiel Macha for providing them pictures of goats with PPR taken during the 2013 outbreak in Ngorongoro. ET and TK are supported by the Swedish Research Council (Grant 348-2013-6402) and the Wellcome Trust (Grant WT087546MA).