Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) outbreaks in sheep and goats in Punjab

The clinical features, epidemiological observations and histopathological changes are described in the outbreaks of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in sheep and goats in Punjab, India. The disease started in the last week of April, 2005 and continued up to mid-May. The affected animals showed high fever (105–107° F), depression, anorexia, ocular and nasal discharge, discrete necrotic lesions in the mouth, diarrhoea, abortions, laboured breathing and occasional cough. The morbidity and mortality were significantly higher (P<0.05) in goats as compared to sheep. The morbidity, mortality and case fatality rate (CFR) in kids and lambs were significantly higher (P<0.05) than the adults. Sex-wise, there was no statistical difference between males and females. Grossly, lungs had petechial haemorrhages and severe congestion indicating bronchopneumonia, and mesenteric lymph nodes were oedematous. Histopathological examination showed lymphomononuclear cell infiltration in lungs, liver and abomasum. In kidneys, glomerular atrophy and cellular infiltration in periglomerular area; also there was severe necrotic enteritis. Mesenteric lymph nodes showed depletion of lymphocytes. The ELISA detected PPR virus antigen in the spleen and nasal swab samples, whereas tissue samples from lungs and mesenteric lymph nodes as well as rectal swab samples were negative.