Peste des Petitis

Also known as PPR and goat plaque. it is an acute or sub-acute viral disease of small ruminants characterised by fever necrotic stomatitis, gastroentritis, pneumonia, conjunctivitis.

Etiology

 PPR is caused by virus member of genus Morbillivirus belonging to family Paramyxoviridae. it is antigeniacally  related to Rinderpest.

Epidemiology

It is a List A disease by the OIE. Morbidity is 90%  Mortality is 50 to 80%. goats are more susceptible to disease than sheep. the disease is directly transmitted from diseased to healthy.

Pathogenesis

 The virus enters through inhalation, goes to the pharangeal and sub-mandibular lymph nodes and multiplies there. then goes to lymphoid tissue of other systems like GIT and Respiratory. this causes severe leukopenia and immunosuppression. also cause necrosis of lumph nodes.virus is shed by the diseased animal in acute form of disease but stops as the temperature becomes normal. 

Clinical Signs

Incubation period of the virus is 4-10 days. there is a high rise of body temp from 104-106 F.
animal is dull and depressed and anorectic. The virus causes mucosal erosion in mouth and nasal passage within 5 days. there os profuse salivation and necrotic stomatitis with Halitosis. Serous nasal discharge becomes mucopurulent resulting in profuse catarhral exudate which crust and occlude over nostrils. pneumonia and conjunctivitis are also common signs. after 3 days diarrhea follows which causes severe dehydration hypothermia and death follows.

Diagnosis

History can help in diagnosing the disease as it comes in epidemic form. The confirmatory tests include CBC, ELISA, PCR, VNT,

Treatment

there is no specific treatment only supportive treatment is given. NSAIDS are preffered over steroids as steroids cause immunosupression.. antibiotic to stop the secondary bacterial infection, penicillin or cephalosporin group used as GIT involved and more chances of gram-ve bacteria to grow.rehydration is done with infusions. vit A inj and gargling with KMNO4 solution

Prevrention

some preventions must be done in case of viral disease i a herd. these include

• isolate the infected animals
• quarrantine and vaccine in the endemic areas. modifide live PPR vaccine is done. vaccine is done at 1.5 year of age because before that there are enough antibodies from the clostrum. if not fed clostrum then vaccine at 6 months.