Outbreak of Peste des Petits Ruminants among Critically Endangered Mongolian Saiga and Other Wild Ungulates, Mongolia, 2016–2017

Abstract

The 2016–2017 introduction of peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) into livestock in Mongolia was followed by mass mortality of the critically endangered Mongolian saiga antelope and other rare wild ungulates. To assess the nature and population effects of this outbreak among wild ungulates, we collected clinical, histopathologic, epidemiologic, and ecological evidence. Molecular characterization confirmed that the causative agent was PPRV lineage IV. The spatiotemporal patterns of cases among wildlife were similar to those among livestock affected by the PPRV outbreak, suggesting spillover of virus from livestock at multiple locations and time points and subsequent spread among wild ungulates. Estimates of saiga abundance suggested a population decline of 80%, raising substantial concerns for the species’ survival. Consideration of the entire ungulate community (wild and domestic) is essential for elucidating the epidemiology of PPRV in Mongolia, addressing the threats to wild ungulate conservation, and achieving global PPRV eradication.

Peste des Petits Ruminants at the Wildlife–Livestock Interface in the Northern Albertine Rift and Nile Basin, East Africa

“…The disease peste des petits ruminants (PPR), is one of the most important and devastating infectious diseases in domestic small ruminants across more than 70 countries, causing economic losses of 1.45 to 2.1 billion United States Dollar (USD) each year, potentially threatening 80% of the worldwide small livestock and the livelihoods of 900 million poor farmers [2,3]. PPR is also a significant disease and the cause of mortality in captive and wild artiodactyls in Asia and the Middle East, and an emerging threat to wildlife conservation [4][5][6].…”

“…Following previous successful experiences with Rinderpest (RP) eradication, the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) launched an eradication program for PPR that aims to control and eradicate the disease by 2030 [13]. A significant constraint on reaching this goal is the lack of understanding of the PPR epidemiology at the wildlife-livestock interface, in which several domestic and wild species may be involved [5,14].…”

“…The impact that PPR can have in wild animal populations is exemplified by the massive die-offs reported in wildlife from Mongolia [5] and mountain ungulates from the Middle East, and south and east of Asia [26][27][28][29]. African wildlife appears to also be commonly exposed to PPRV according to antibody and virus detection, but as of yet, there is little evidence of the disease in free-ranging populations [14,30,31].…”

“…In fact, PPRV spillover from a domestic source was suggested in the Serengeti ecosystem in Tanzania with higher antibody prevalence in wildlife close to livestock, but without evident clinical syndromes or mortality [14]. Although it is becoming clearer as to the role of wildlife in PPR epidemiology, with most data supporting the hypothesis of wildlife as a victim rather than reservoir [5,14,27], there are still gaps in understanding. The circulation of PPRV among wildlife even on a temporary basis can contribute to the virus persistence in multi-host systems and enhance the spread of the virus [35].…”

Development and validation of a portable, point-of-care canine distemper virus qPCR test

“…Fewer have been developed and validated for use in wildlife and field settings [13]. However, recent outbreaks of Ebola in great apes and humans, SARS in civets, peste-des-petits ruminants in saiga, African swine fever, MERS in camels and humans, and many other diseases of animal and public health importance have highlighted a need for development of new or enhancement of existing portable POC tools [12,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20].…”