Peste des Petits Ruminants serological survey in Karamoja sub region of Uganda by competitive ELISA

Abstract

Following the historical reports of mysterious illnesses and deaths in goats in the Karamoja sub-region in April, 2007 and subsequent confirmation of Pest des Petitis Ruminants in July, 2007; we carried out a serological survey to determine the indicative caprine PPRV exposure rate by 2009. We sampled 280 goats from Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Abim and Kotido Districts of North-eastern Uganda to detect antibodies against PPRV using competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). The prevalence of PPRV antibodies in the districts of Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Kotido and Abim was 63.2% (CI = 95%, 58.0 – 68.0%), 72.0% (CI = 95%, 65.6 - 78.4%), 85% (CI = 95%, 81.0 –88.9%) and 1.6% (CI = 95%, -0.01 – 3.22%) respectively. The overall prevalence of antibodies against PPRV in Karamoja sub-region was found to be 57.6 % (CI = 95%, 48.8 – 66.4%). The high prevalence of antibodies against PPRV suggests that active infection may still be present and therefore the need to institute disease control measures. More studies should be undertaken to characterize the viruses involved and the epidemiology of PPR in Uganda [Vet. World 2011; 4(4.000): 149-152]

Keywords

• Goats
• Competitive (ELISA)
• Karamoja
• Peste des petits ruminants Virus (PPRV)
• PPRV antibodies