Peste des petits ruminants in Algeria: Viral circulation of PPRV between 2012 and 2015 - R. Baazizi; D. Khelef; T. Hussain (Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences, 2017)
Following the detection of lineage IV peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) circulation in Tunisia and Morocco in 2008, investigations were regularly executed in farms and livestock markets of Algeria, mainly in western and eastern part bordering Morocco and Tunisia, respectively. A sero-surveillance undertaken in early 2011 confirmed serologically positive cases in the Sahara desert region. Consequently a national sero-survey of PPR involving all the 48 administrative districts of Algeria was conducted in February 2012, from 13/02/2012 to 23/02/2012. A total of 3396 samples from 202 livestock herds spread over 48 administrative districts (Wilayas) of Algeria were collected for this purpose. Serum samples were tested for the presence of antibodies to PPRV following the competitive ELISA protocol (cELISA). The laboratory investigation revealed a very high rate (68.8%) of serologic prevalence of PPR at national level. It also showed the spatial variability of the prevalence between different regions in the country; the highest infection rates (86.8%) were registered at the west region bordering Morocco while the lowest (51.4%) was observed in the north. This rate also varied from old animals (22.9%) to young animals (13.5%) and from goats (23.9%) to sheep (17.1%) and from females (21.8%) to males (14.1%). The PPRV circulation is proven towards this survey but none vaccination program was applied. It is in this purpose that a sero-survey was lead in 2015 where 1286 animals were sampled (1085 sheep and 201 goats), 315 were positive with a global seroprevalence of (24.5%). The seroprevalence calculated in sheep is (24%) and (26%) in goats. This lead to implement the strategy to fight PPR as the veterinary services decided in 2013 that vaccination will be extended to other districts based on the results of the serological survey and changes in health status.
Keywords: journal article; Peste des Petits Ruminants; morbillivirus; seroprevalence; sheep; goat; Algeria