Clinico-pathological observations in sheep & goats exposed to lineage III peste des petits ruminants virus infection in Kenya

Abstract

It has been demonstrated that positive tissue samples from an active case in Turkana had viral RNA from a lineage III PPRV and the first available genome sequence was determined. Seven goats and sheep aged between 3-6 months that were tested to be negative for PPR antibodies by competitive-ELISA were used for study. These animals were divided into two treatment groups and one control group. Each animal in the treatment groups was inoculated through intranasal route with 2ml of 30% infected mixed tissue suspension while the control group was inoculated with phosphate buffered saline. Animals were then examined daily for development of PPR clinical signs. Clinical signs were observed in treatment groups while the control remained apparently healthy. Fever started to develop from 6.6 ±1.14 and 8.6 ±1.34 days post infection (dpi) in goats and sheep respectively. There was a progressive rise in respiratory rates from 9 to 16 dpi in goats and from 9 to 14 dpi in sheep. Nasal discharges were recorded from days 8.2 ±2.28 and 9 ±1.83 post infection in goats and sheep respectively. Ocular discharges were observed from days 10±2.24 and 9.8±2.17 post infection in goats and sheep respectively. Oral lesions were observed only in one goat and two sheep. Diarrhea was observed from day 13.5±0.58 post infection in sheep and from day 14±1 post infection in goats.Gross pathology revealed lesions mainly in the lungs, body lymph nodes and the intestines. The results from this study indicate that whereas PPR is thought to mainly affect goats, the disease in Kenya appear to evenly affect both, goat and sheep.