Summary
The
peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an acute and highly contagious,
notifiable viral disease of sheep and goats that causes substantial
morbidity and mortality. There are three cell culture-based live
attenuated PPR vaccines available (one from an African isolate and
two from Indian isolates). The PPR vaccine produced by the Indian
Veterinary Research Institute has been extensively evaluated in
the field and found safe and potent in sheep and goats in India.
Diagnostic tests, such as the sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay (s?ELISA), competitive ELISA, single and duplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase
chain reactions (RT-PCRs) and RT-PCR-ELISA at the Indian Veterinary
Research Institute have also been validated on a large scale. Furthermore,
the expertise that remained after the successful eradication of
rinderpest in the National Project on Rinderpest Eradication can
be utilised effectively for the eradication of PPR without much
additional budgetary expense. Thus, the availability of an effective
vaccine, accurate diagnostic tests for PPR and an experienced infrastructure
prompt us to propose a national project for a peste des petits ruminants
eradication programme on the lines of National Project on Rinderpest
Eradication. This would greatly enhance the prospects of PPR eradication
not only on a national level but also from the Asian continent,
alleviate poverty and, in turn, contribute to the national economy.
Keywords
Control,
Eradication, Goat, India, Peste des petits ruminants, Rinderpest,
Sheep. |