Peste-Des-Petits-Ruminants: An Indian Perspective

Abstract

Peste-des-petits-ruminants (PPR) is an acute or subacute, highly contagious viral disease of small ruminants, characterized by fever, oculonasal discharges, stomatitis, diarrhoea and pneumonia with high morbidity and mortality. Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus (PPRV), the etiological agent of PPR, is antigenically related to another rinderpest virus (RP) which was globally eradicated. PPR is gaining worldwide attention through the concerted effort of scientists working together under the aegis of global PPR research alliance (GPRA). The first homologous live attenuated vaccine was developed using Nigeria 75/1, which has been used worldwide. In India, live attenuated vaccines have been developed using Sungri 96, Arasur 87 and Coimbatore 97 viruses. In this review, the status of PPR and control strategy with special reference to the Indian context is comprehensively discussed.