First time isolation of the PPR virus in Chad and experimental induction of the disease

Abstract

In Chad, in 1993 and1994, investigations into “peste des petits ruminants”(PPR) outbreaks were carried out in flocks of Sahelian goats. Although in the early 1993 outbreaks the virus had not been isolated yet, a serological prevalence (34 %) was observed using ELISA test in 475 sera collected in the infested area. The virus was then isolated for the first time in Chad and typical PPR cases were observed in Sahelian goats, known to be little sensitive to the virus. To experimentally induce the disease, goats were inoculated with suspensions of lymph nodes or lungs, collected from sick animals. Lung suspensions induced the most serious symptoms. Suspensions of lungs and mesenteric lymph nodes were positive by agar-gel immunodiffusion test against PPR anti-serum, while prescapular lymph nodes remained negative. Characterization of the isolated virus, in particular with regard to its genomic identity, should be investigated.