Epidemiological investigation into the introduction and factors for spread of Peste des Petits Ruminants, southern Tanzania

Abstract

A study was carried out to confirm and identify sources and elucidate factors associated with the introduction of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in southern Tanzania. This study was conducted in Tandahimba and Newala districts of Mtwara region following suspected outbreak of PPR in the area. Qualitative data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews of key informants who included goat and sheep owners with suspected cases of PPR and animal health service providers as well as local administrative authority. Additionally, 216 serum samples and 28 swabs were collected for serological and virological laboratory disease confirmation. The results show that PPR was first introduced in Likuna village of Newala district in February 2009 through newly purchased goats from the Pugu livestock market located about 700 km in the outskirts of Dar es Salaam city. Factors which contributed to spread of PPR included communal grazing and the cheap prices of sick animals bought by livestock keepers for slaughtering in other villages. Laboratory findings confirmed presence of PPR in the area by RT-PCR and serological analysis revealed that seroprevalence was 31%. These findings have confirmed, for the first time, introduction of PPR in southern Tanzania. The presence of PPR poses high risk of southward spread of the disease to other southern African countries in the SADC region thus calling for concerted and collaborative efforts in prevention and control of the disease to avoid losses. Further elaborate studies on the spread, prevalence and risk factors associated with the disease should urgently be investigated.

Seroprevalence of Peste Des Petits Ruminants Virus from Samples Collected in Different Regions of Tanzania in 2013 and 2015

“…This follows the official confirmation of PPR in neighboring Kenya in 2007 [7]. The possible spread from Kenya to Tanzania may have been due to the difficulty in controlling transnational livestock movements across borders, especially where Maasai pastoralists are found on either side [12]. In 2011, an outbreak of PPR was reported in southern Tanzania [13].…”

Pattern of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) distribution in Ghana (2005–2013).

“…Poor nutrition due to deficiency of fodder during that period (Wosu et al, 1994) also contributed to the findings. Other workers also established that PPR epidemics tend to occur during the rainy season when goats are herded together and around Christmas when movement to markets increases (Nawathe, 1984;Muse et al, 2012;Salih et al, 2014). The highest outbreaks of PPR occurred in 2011, followed by 2012 and 2010 (Table 2).…”

Seroprevalence and risk factors for peste des petits ruminants and selected differential diagnosis in sheep and goats in Tanzania

“…Previous studies in northern Tanzania found an overall seroprevalence of 45.5% in 2008 [46] and 22.1% in 2008–2009 [21]. In southern Tanzania, in the Mtwara region bordering Mozambique, 31% of sampled small ruminants had antibodies to PPRV [47]. A recent study analysing samples from 14 different regions of Tanzania described an overall seroprevalence of 27.1%, with regions varying from 2.4% (Kagera) to 72.8% (Morogoro), demonstrating the varying level of seroprevalence within the country [23].…”