Necropsy-based evaluation of samples for detection of peste des petits ruminants virus using sandwich elisa

Astudy was conducted to detect Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) antigen from tissues and swab samples and associated it with patho-morphological changes in tissues collected from dead sheep and goats (50) suspected for Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) during June 2018 to March 2019. A total of 450 samples consisting of nasal swabs, tracheal swabs, lung, lungassociated lymph nodes, brain, liver, spleen, intestines and mesenteric lymph nodes (50 each) were collected at the time of post-mortem examination. The samples were processed for the detection of PPRV using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and pathomorphological examination. Highest positivity for PPRV antigen was detected in nasal swabs, tracheal swabs, lungs and lung-associated lymph nodes (44% each) followed by mesenteric lymph nodes (32%), spleen (20%), brain (16%), intestines (10%) and liver (8%). The presence of PPRV antigen in brain (cerebrum and cerebellum) is a unique finding in the study. Visceral organs such as lungs, intestines, and brain and lymph nodes also showed characteristic gross and microscopic lesions associated with PPR confirming infection. Nasal swabs, tracheal swabs, lungs and lung associated lymph nodes are samples of choice for detection of PPRV antigen by sandwich ELISAin dead animals.