A predictive analysis on the risk of peste des petits ruminants in livestock in the Trans-Himalayan region and validation of its transboundary transmission paths

Although the Trans-Himalayan region (THR) is an important endemic and rendezvous area of peste des petits ruminants (PPR), monitoring and prevention measurements are difficult to execute because of the rough geographical conditions. Besides, a heterogeneous breeding system and the poor veterinary service of susceptible animals compound the existing problems. Here, we propose a forecasting system to define the key points of PPR prevention and aid the countries in saving time, labor, and products to achieve the goal of the global eradication project of PPR. The spatial distribution of PPR was predicted in the THR for the first time using a niche model that was constructed with a combination of eco-geographical, anthropoid, meteorological, and host variables. The transboundary least-cost paths (LCPs) of small ruminants in the THR were also calculated. Our results reveal that the low-elevation area of the THR had a higher PPR risk and was mainly dominated by human variables. The high-elevation area had lower risk and was mainly dominated by natural variables. Eight LCPs representing corridors among India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and China were obtained. This confirmed the potential risk of transboundary communication by relying on PPR contamination on the grasslands for the first time. The predicted potential risk communication between the two livestock systems and landscapes (high and low elevation) might play a role in driving PPR transboundary transmission.

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Peste des petits ruminants in Africa: a review of currently available molecular epidemiological data, 2020

Archives of Virology ◽

10.1007/s00705-020-04732-1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 165 (10) ◽

pp. 2147-2163 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

William G. Dundon ◽

Adama Diallo ◽

Giovanni Cattoli

Keyword(s):

Economic Impact ◽

International Organizations ◽

Small Ruminants ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Viral Disease ◽

Cash Income ◽

Small Farmers ◽

Peste Des Petits Ruminants ◽

Sheep And Goats ◽

Global Eradication

Abstract Small ruminants (e.g., sheep and goats) contribute considerably to the cash income and nutrition of small farmers in most countries in Africa and Asia. Their husbandry is threatened by the highly infectious transboundary viral disease peste des petits ruminants (PPR) caused by peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV). Given its social and economic impact, PPR is presently being targeted by international organizations for global eradication by 2030. Since its first description in Côte d’Ivoire in 1942, and particularly over the last 10 years, a large amount of molecular epidemiological data on the virus have been generated in Africa. This review aims to consolidate these data in order to have a clearer picture of the current PPR situation in Africa, which will, in turn, assist authorities in global eradication attempts.

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Peste Des Petits Ruminants Virus and Goatpox Virus Co-Infection in Goats

Veterinary Pathology ◽

10.1177/0300985820926954 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 57 (4) ◽

pp. 550-553

Author(s):

Olatunde Babatunde Akanbi ◽

Kati Franzke ◽

Adeyinka Jeremy Adedeji ◽

Reiner Ulrich ◽

Jens Peter Teifke

Keyword(s):

Small Ruminants ◽

Cytoplasmic Inclusion ◽

Economic Consequences ◽

Peste Des Petits Ruminants ◽

Cytoplasmic Inclusions ◽

Goatpox Virus ◽

Transmission Electron ◽

Cytoplasmic Inclusion Bodies ◽

Red Sokoto Goat ◽

First Time

Infection of small ruminants with peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) and goatpox virus (GTPV) are endemic and can have devastating economic consequences in Asia and Africa. Co-infection with these viruses have recently been reported in goats and sheep in Nigeria. In this study, we evaluated samples from the lips of a red Sokoto goat, and describe co-infection of keratinocytes with PPRV and GTPV using histopathology and transmission electron microscopy. Eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusion bodies were identified histologically, and ultrastructural analysis revealed numerous large cytoplasmic viral factories containing poxvirus particles and varying sizes of smaller cytoplasmic inclusions composed of PPRV nucleocapsids. These histopathological and ultrastructural findings show concurrent infection with the 2 viruses for the first time as well as the detection of PPRV particles in epithelial cells of the mucocutaneous junction of the lip.

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Prevalence and molecular characterization of some circulating strains of the peste-des-petits-ruminants virus in Saudi Arabia between 2014–2016

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.9035 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. e9035

Author(s):

Maged Gomaa Hemida ◽

Hussain Mohammed Alghadeer ◽

Mohammed Alhammadi ◽

Sayed Ali

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Small Ruminants ◽

Peste Des Petits Ruminants ◽

Vero Cell Line ◽

The World ◽

Eradication Campaign ◽

Global Eradication ◽

Tissue Specimens ◽

Lineage Iv

Background The peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV) is a highly devastating virus of small ruminants in many parts of the world, including the Kingdome of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, our objectives were (1) to conduct a molecular prevalence study of PPRV in sheep and goat across the KSA and (2) to isolate and identify currently circulating PPRV lineages. Swabs and tissue specimens were collected from 97 herds suspected to be infected with PPRV across the Kingdome of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Testing for the presence of the virus was done by the real-time PCR. Confirmation of the identity of the reactions was done by the gel-based-PCR then by sequencing of the partial PPRV genome. Results Our results revealed that 24.1% of the tested specimens were PPRV-positive. Isolation of PPRV was successful from samples using the Vero cell line. Sequence analysis of some partial PPRV genes (N, F, M, L, P, and H) revealed that these strains were belonging to lineage IV of the PPRV. Conclusions This is the first study to conduct both the nationwide prevalence, isolation, and molecular characterizations of the PPRV in the KSA. Continuous surveillance and monitoring of the circulating strains of PPRV among sheep and goats will contribute substantially to the global eradication campaign of such a virus.

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Factors contributing to the introduction and spread of Peste des Petits ruminants virus in the Republic of Chad

GSC Advanced Research and Reviews ◽

10.30574/gscarr.2021.7.2.0087 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 093-096

Author(s):

Bidjeh Kebkiba ◽

Adam Hassan Yacoub

Keyword(s):

Action Plan ◽

Small Ruminants ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Peste Des Petits Ruminants ◽

Global Action ◽

Long Time ◽

The Republic ◽

Considerable Morbidity ◽

The Moment ◽

First Time

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an infectious, contagious and inoculable disease. It is widely distributed in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. It was described for the first time in Côte d'Ivoire by Gargadennec and Lalanne in 1942. This pathology, similar to rinderpest at the clinical and antigenic level, reveals a capital and growing importance and constitutes a brake on the development of the breeding of small ruminants because the economic losses are considerable (morbidity is 100% and mortality 90%). The pathogen is a virus belonging to the genus Morbillivirus, the family Paramyxoviridae. This widespread and devastating disease of small ruminants causes very significant losses to the economy, food security and the livelihoods of pastoralists. Globally, it is one of the priority diseases indicated in the five-year of global action plan of the FAO-OIE Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Diseases (GF-TADs). The Republic of Chad, like other countries has joined this line with an ambition of its eradication by 2025. The existence of PPR in Chad has been demonstrated for a long time, but no data exists for the moment on the factors of its introduction and spread in the country. This article describes the main factors behind its introduction and spread in the country.

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Cyathodium denticulatum Udar et Srivastava: A rare liverwort new to Chhattisgarh, Central India

Current Botany ◽

10.25081/cb.2020.v11.5882 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 171-174

Author(s):

Ashwini Kumar Dixit ◽

Mery Aradhna Kerketta

Keyword(s):

Rare Species ◽

Biosphere Reserve ◽

Central India ◽

Himalayan Region ◽

Taxonomic Description ◽

First Time ◽

Eastern Himalayan Region

This article reports the occurrence of the thalloid liverwort Cyathodium denticulatum Udar et Srivastava was collected first time from the Achanakmar – Amarkantak Biosphere Reserve (AABR) Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh. It is shown that Cyathodium denticulatum a narrow Himalayan endemic has been reported earlier from Darjeeling, India. There is no record of its occurrence from central India. Cyathodium denticulatum is a rare species known only from eastern Himalayan region. A key to related Indian taxa and taxonomic description is provided.

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The first record of Tischeriidae (Insecta: Lepidoptera) from Madagascar, with description of Coptotriche alavelona sp. n. and an updated distributional checklist of Afrotropical Tischeriidae

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.1645.1.3 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 1645 (1) ◽

pp. 35-45 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

DAVID C. LEES ◽

JONAS R. STONIS

Keyword(s):

Male Genitalia ◽

First Record ◽

High Elevation ◽

Distribution Map ◽

The Family ◽

Moist Forest ◽

First Time

The family Tischeriidae is recorded from Madagascar for the first time. Coptotriche alavelona Lees and Stonis, sp. n., is described from high elevation tropical moist forest of Madagascar, and its proposed generic placement discussed. DNA of this species has been extracted and conserved for future phylogenetic or barcoding studies. The external features and male genitalia are figured and described. An updated checklist and a distribution map for all 13 Tischeriidae species currently recorded from the Afrotropics are provided.

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Molecular Detection and Phylogeny of Anaplasmaphagocytophilum and Related Variants in Small Ruminants from Turkey

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11030814 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 814

Author(s):

Münir Aktaş ◽

Sezayi Özübek ◽

Mehmet Can Uluçeşme

Keyword(s):

16S Rrna ◽

Small Ruminants ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Infection Rates ◽

Sheep And Goats ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Pcr Rflp ◽

First Time ◽

Japan And China ◽

Apparently Healthy

Anaplasma phagocytophilum causes tick-borne fever in small ruminants. Recently, novel Anaplasma variants related to A. phagocytophilum have been reported in ruminants from Tunisia, Italy, South Korea, Japan, and China. Based on 16S rRNA and groEL genes and sequencing, we screened the frequency of A. phagocytophilum and related variants in 433 apparently healthy small ruminants in Turkey. Anaplasma spp. overall infection rates were 27.9% (121/433 analyzed samples). The frequency of A. phagocytophilum and A. phagocytophilum-like 1 infections was 1.4% and 26.5%, respectively. No A. phagocytophilum-like 2 was detected in the tested animals. The prevalence of Anaplasma spp. was comparable in species, and no significant difference was detected between sheep and goats, whereas the prevalence significantly increased with tick infestation. Sequencing confirmed PCR-RFLP data and showed the presence of A. phagocytophilum and A. phagocytophilum-like-1 variant in the sampled animals. Phylogeny-based on 16S rRNA gene revealed the A. phagocytophilum-like 1 in a separate clade together with the previous isolates detected in small ruminants and ticks. In this work, A. phagocytophilum-like 1 has been detected for the first time in sheep and goats from Turkey. This finding revealed that the variant should be considered in the diagnosis of caprine and ovine anaplasmosis.

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Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus Infection at the Wildlife–Livestock Interface in the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem, 2015–2019

Viruses ◽

10.3390/v13050838 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 838

Author(s):

Bryony A. Jones ◽

Mana Mahapatra ◽

Daniel Mdetele ◽

Julius Keyyu ◽

Francis Gakuya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Small Ruminants ◽

Viral Disease ◽

Global Strategy ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Weighted Estimate ◽

Peste Des Petits Ruminants ◽

African Buffalo ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Serengeti Ecosystem

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a viral disease of goats and sheep that occurs in Africa, the Middle East and Asia with a severe impact on livelihoods and livestock trade. Many wild artiodactyls are susceptible to PPR virus (PPRV) infection, and some outbreaks have threatened endangered wild populations. The role of wild species in PPRV epidemiology is unclear, which is a knowledge gap for the Global Strategy for the Control and Eradication of PPR. These studies aimed to investigate PPRV infection in wild artiodactyls in the Greater Serengeti and Amboseli ecosystems of Kenya and Tanzania. Out of 132 animals purposively sampled in 2015–2016, 19.7% were PPRV seropositive by ID Screen PPR competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA; IDvet, France) from the following species: African buffalo, wildebeest, topi, kongoni, Grant’s gazelle, impala, Thomson’s gazelle, warthog and gerenuk, while waterbuck and lesser kudu were seronegative. In 2018–2019, a cross-sectional survey of randomly selected African buffalo and Grant’s gazelle herds was conducted. The weighted estimate of PPRV seroprevalence was 12.0% out of 191 African buffalo and 1.1% out of 139 Grant’s gazelles. All ocular and nasal swabs and faeces were negative by PPRV real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Investigations of a PPR-like disease in sheep and goats confirmed PPRV circulation in the area by rapid detection test and/or RT-qPCR. These results demonstrated serological evidence of PPRV infection in wild artiodactyl species at the wildlife–livestock interface in this ecosystem where PPRV is endemic in domestic small ruminants. Exposure to PPRV could be via spillover from infected small ruminants or from transmission between wild animals, while the relatively low seroprevalence suggests that sustained transmission is unlikely. Further studies of other major wild artiodactyls in this ecosystem are required, such as impala, Thomson’s gazelle and wildebeest.

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Comparison of Three Fungicide Spray Advisories for Lettuce Downy Mildew

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis.2001.85.8.895 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 85 (8) ◽

pp. 895-900 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

B. M. Wu ◽

K. V. Subbarao ◽

A. H. C. van Bruggen ◽

S. T. Koike

Keyword(s):

Downy Mildew ◽

Drip Irrigation ◽

Leaf Wetness ◽

Lettuce Downy Mildew ◽

Advisory System ◽

System 2 ◽

Forecasting System ◽

Low Incidence ◽

System 1 ◽

First Time

Lettuce growers in coastal California have relied mainly on protective fungicide sprays to control downy mildew. Thus, timing of sprays before infection is critical for optimal results. A leaf-wetness-driven, infection-based advisory system, previously developed, did not always perform satisfactorily. In this study, the advisory system was modified by incorporating a pathogen survival component (system 1) or both survival and sporulation components (system 2). These systems were then evaluated in commercial lettuce fields in coastal California during 1996-1998. Three or four treatments were carried out in each field: (i) no spray; (ii) sprays as scheduled by the growers; (iii) sprays following modified system 1; and (iv) sprays following the original advisory system (1996) or modified system 2 (1998). Downy mildew incidence was evaluated every 2 to 9 days. In fields with drip irrigation, the number of fungicide applications was reduced by one or two regardless of the advisory system used compared to the grower's calendar-based schedule, although one unnecessary spray was recommended in 1996 at Soledad and 1997 at Salinas. Under all three systems, disease levels were low (incidence <25% and about 1 lesion per plant) for fields with drip irrigation, but not for fields with sprinklers (incidence up to 100% and 5 to 10 lesions per plant). For the first time, we established that survival and sporulation components are not needed for a lettuce downy mildew forecasting system. Instead, a threshold with a shorter period of morning leaf wetness and high temperatures were found to have potential for improving forecasting efficiency.

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Review of Peste des Petits Ruminants Occurrence and Spread in Tanzania

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11061698 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1698

Author(s):

Daniel Pius Mdetele ◽

Erick Komba ◽

Misago Dimson Seth ◽

Gerald Misinzo ◽

Richard Kock ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Economic Impact ◽

Disease Surveillance ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Small Ruminants ◽

Peste Des Petits Ruminants ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Eradication Programme ◽

Sheep And Goats ◽

Ruminant Species ◽

Socio Economic Impact

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an important transboundary animal disease of domestic small ruminants, camels, and wild artiodactyls. The disease has significant socio-economic impact on communities that depend on livestock for their livelihood and is a threat to endangered susceptible wild species. The aim of this review was to describe the introduction of PPR to Tanzania and its subsequent spread to different parts of the country. On-line databases were searched for peer-reviewed and grey literature, formal and informal reports were obtained from Tanzanian Zonal Veterinary Investigation Centres and Laboratories, and Veterinary Officers involved with PPR surveillance were contacted. PPR virus (PPRV) was confirmed in northern Tanzania in 2008, although serological data from samples collected in the region in 1998 and 2004, and evidence that the virus was already circulating in Uganda in 2003, suggests that PPRV might have been present earlier than this. It is likely that the virus which became established in Tanzania was introduced from Kenya between 2006–7 through the cross-border movement of small ruminants for trade or grazing resources, and then spread to eastern, central, and southern Tanzania from 2008 to 2010 through movement of small ruminants by pastoralists and traders. There was no evidence of PPRV sero-conversion in wildlife based on sera collected up to 2012, suggesting that they did not play a vectoring or bridging role in the establishment of PPRV in Tanzania. PPRV lineages II, III and IV have been detected, indicating that there have been several virus introductions. PPRV is now considered to be endemic in sheep and goats in Tanzania, but there has been no evidence of PPR clinical disease in wildlife species in Tanzania, although serum samples collected in 2014 from several wild ruminant species were PPRV sero-positive. Similarly, no PPR disease has been observed in cattle and camels. In these atypical hosts, serological evidence indicates exposure to PPRV infection, most likely through spillover from infected sheep and goats. Some of the challenges for PPRV eradication in Tanzania include movements of small ruminants, including transboundary movements, and the capacity of veterinary services for disease surveillance and vaccination. Using wildlife and atypical domestic hosts for PPR surveillance is a useful indicator of endemism and the ongoing circulation of PPRV in livestock, especially during the implementation of vaccination to control or eliminate the disease in sheep and goats. PPR disease has a major socio-economic impact in Tanzania, which justifies the investment in a comprehensive PPRV eradication programme.

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