Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in western Tanzania

Abstract

An epidemiological study was carried out to determine the disease status of Peste des Petits ruminants (PPR) in Kigoma region bordering Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The study aimed at establishing the seroprevalence, risk factors associated with the PPR and clinical cases in the study area. A total of 450 sheep and goats were sampled, 150 animals from each of the three Districts. The overall regional seroprevalence was 4.4 and 0.7% for goats and sheep respectively. Stratification of the seroprevalence by District indicated that Kibondo had the highest seroprevalence of PPR in goats (6%) followed by Kasulu (5.6%) and Kigoma rural (2.4%). In addition, Kibondo District recorded active clinical cases of PPR with overall morbidity of 19.3% and case fatality ratio of 71.1%. There were no active cases of PPR reported in Kasulu and Kigoma Rural Districts. Questionnaire survey to establish risks for PPR infection and spread was conducted in Kibondo District targeting the affected villages. Introduction of new animals in the flock was identified as the key risk factor for the PPR infection in the flock (p=0.0054). Furthermore, both sheep and goats were affected in spite of the lower number of sheep kept in the region. Being the first study on PPR in the western region of Tanzania bordering Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo, the study will benefits the three countries and provides the basis for the joint efforts to control and eventually eradicate the disease.

Keywords: PPR, Western-Tanzania, Seroprevalence, small ruminants, PPR, Kigoma