Abstract:
Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious viral animal disease that impact negatively on food security of livestock keepers in Africa due to its fast spread and death of small ruminants. The disease was first reported in West Africa and afterwards Asia, rest of Africa including East Africa and Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Lack of vaccination and effective application of diagnostic technologies to identify carriers has led to fast spread of the disease. Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique have been warned to be at high risk of infection of PPR due to their proximity to Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where the disease has been confirmed (FAO/OIE, 2015). Quantification of the disease status in these high risk countries will ensure effective surveillance and control to keep the disease from spreading. The aim of the present study was to provide epidemiological and molecular status of Peste des PetitsRuminants Virus (PPRV) in small ruminants along Tanzania-Malawi border. Whole blood (n=350), serum (n=350) and nasal swabs (n=100)were collected from goats and sheep in Kyela and Ileje (Tanzania) and Karonga and Chitipa(Malawi). A questionnaire was administered to 113 household heads to depict factors leading to spread of the disease. Molecular diagnosis was done by partial amplification of PPRVgenome using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Data analysis using chi square test for seroprevalenceand partial logistic regression to check for factors associated with seropositivity were carried out using Epi info statistical package. Based on the results, overall seroprevalencewas 11.1% and analysis showed that 31 out of 83small ruminants (37.3%) in Kyelawas significantly higher (p=0.000) than 8 out of 84 (9.5%) in Ileje. A total of 2 out 95 (2.1%) animals inChitipa had PPRV detected by RT-PCR. However, the PCR products did not yield any nucleotide sequence because the viral load was low. Communal grazing and free roaming husbandry practices were shown to be risk factors for the spread of PPR in these border districts. The interviewed farmers had limited knowledge of the disease although they are helped by Veterinary and field officers for other diseases. It is concluded that there is no active infection of PPR along the border districts of Tanzania and Malawi, however low virus load may be present in Chitipa. It is recommendedthatappropriate strategies should be applied to prevent contact with infected animals through vaccination against PPRVon both sides of border districts.
