Sero-prevalence and Assessment of Factors for the Spread of Paste des Petites Ruminants among Cattle in River Nile State, Sudan

Abstract

The present study was conducted between April and October 2019 to investigate the presence of peste des petits ruminant virus (PPRV) antibodies among cattle populations in the River Nile State where PPR is known as endemic in small ruminant populations. In order to investigate the sero-prevalence of PPRV antibodies, sera were collected from four localities in the River Nile State namely Atbara, Ad-Damar, Berber and Elmatama and tested by the haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test for detection and quantification of PPRV antibodies. Results revealed that from the total 517 cattle sera tested, 267 sera were reacted positive in the HI test with an overall antibodies sero-prevalence of 51.7% whereas 250 sera (48.3%) were reacted negative. Moreover, the HI titres for the tested sera ranged from 2 and 128 haemagglutination-inhibition units (HAI) with mean titre of 9.2 HAI. Sera with HI titers higher than or equal to 8 were considered as positive and protective. Of note, one sera (0.2%) only showed high haemagglutination-inhibition titre of 128 HAI, 135 (26.1%) sera achieved titre of 8 HAI, 89 (17.2%) sera achieved titre of 16 HAI, 35 (6.8%) sera achieved titre of 32 HAI, 7 (1.4%) sera achieved titre of 64 HAI. Obviously, most of the samples (135, 26.1%) achieved HI titre of 8. Within localities of the River Nile State, the highest overall sero-prevalence of PPRV antibodies among cattle was demonstrated in Atbara locality (67.9%, 214/315 sera) whereas the least sero-prevalence was demonstrated in Berber locality (20.3%, 12/59 sera). Moreover, factors that affecting sero-prevalence of PPRV antibodies among cattle such as presence of close contact with sheep and goats, cattle age and breed, were investigated. Considering the effect of contact with sheep and goats, the highest sero-prevalence of PPRV antibodies was demonstrated among cattle came in close contact with sheep and goats (45.3%) compared to cattle not in contact with sheep and goats (6.4%). Considering the effect of cattle age, the highest sero-prevalence of PPRV antibodies was demonstrated among adult cattle (42.9%) compared to young cattle (8.7%). Considering the effect of cattle breed, the highest sero-prevalence of PPRV antibodies was demonstrated among Friesian cattle (41.8%) followed by Butana cattle (9.4%) and lastly Holstein cattle (0.4%).