Peste Des Petits Ruminants in Goats in Kwale County: Co-infection With Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia and Residents’ Knowledge, Perception, and Socio-economic Aspect of the Two Diseases

Abstract

Goats are invaluable financial resources for small-scale farmers. Kenya is a developing country that depends immensely on goat production, mainly for food, skin, and income, among other socio-cultural uses. Meanwhile, goats are among the most important small ruminants affected by Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP), the two most significant diseases worldwide that limit goat husbandry. Reports on joint CCPP and PPR prevalence in Kenya remain scanty, despite Kenya being among the countries practicing traditional and extensive goat husbandry. In addition, uncertainty exists regarding the elements that impact the disease pattern and dynamics, including the cost of vaccination, access to vaccines, and livestock trade. Herein, the seroprevalence of co-infection of PPR and CCPP and knowledge, perception, and goat husbandry practices that could have contributed to the spread and control of the two diseases in Kwale county were investigated. The PPR and CCPP antibodies in goat serum samples were detected using competitive ELISA and Latex Agglutination Test (LAT), respectively. Likely factors influencing PPR and CCPP control in the county were explored using a structured questionnaire. A total of 368 serum samples were collected in the four sub-counties of Kwale County (Kinango, Lungalunga, Matuga, and Msambweni) from goats of various ages and sexes showing signs of respiratory distress and tested for PPR and CCPP antibodies. A total of 101 goat farmers were also interviewed to assess their knowledge of PPR and CCPP. Of the 368 goats sampled, 259 (70.4%) were females, and 109 (29.6%) were males. Additionally, 126 (34.2%), 71(19.3%), 108 (29.3%), and 63(17.1%) were sampled from Kinango, Matuga, Lunga Lunga, and Msambweni, respectively. The overall PPR seropositivity was 179 (48.6%); for Kinango, Lungalunga, Matuga, and Msabweni, positivity rates were 70.6%, 29.6%, 49.3%, and 36.5%, respectively...