Seroprevalence and molelecular detection of peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) in different breeds of sheep and goat of Punjab (Pakistan) and its status in gravid animals

(ppr) in different breeds of sheep and goat population of punjab,pakistan. a total of 800 sera samples collected from apparently healthy/aborted animals were subjected to c-elisa test. further,the nasal swabs,lymph nodes,blood and spleen specimens were collected during various outbreaks from five districts of punjab and molecular detection of ppr virus was performed by rt-pcr targeting fusion (f) protein genes. the overall breed wise seroprevalence was found maximum in cholistani sheep (67.85%) as compared to other sheep breeds (p>0.05; x2=2.119). among the goats the beetal breed showed significantly higher prevalence (61.58%) (p<0.05; x2=11. 514) than rest of the goat breeds under study. the seroprevalence of ppr was found apparently higher in pregnant goats (48.97%) and sheep (45.31%) as compared to nonpregnant animals. the abortion rate in sheep was found to be 19% while in goats it was 23%. the pcr results revealed a product of 372bp. in conclusion,all the sheep breeds under study showed a similar pattern of ppr susceptibility; whereas,the goat breeds such as beetal was most susceptible,followed by nachi,hairy and teddy breeds. the persistent seroprevalence of pprv in the pregnant sheep and goat population indicated a possible carrier state from which infection may be transmitted to the young ones vertically.