Background

PPR is an acute or subacute viral disease that affects goats and sheep. Goats are more severely impacted than sheep. The disease is also more severe in young animals (4-8 months) with both morbidity and mortality higher than in adult animals. The disease exists in most African countries located in a wide strip between the Sahara Desert and the equator, and the Middle East (Israel, Syria, Iraq, Jordan). The disease is characterized by fever, necrosis of the mouth, eye infections, inflammation of the stomach and intestines and pneumonia. It does not have a high infectivity, and its transmission requires close contact between animals. Transmition usually occurs by coughing or sneezing of sick animals.

Disease Characteristics

The incubation period of the virus is 4-5 days. After the incubation period an increase in body temperature occurs, which lasts about 5 to 8 days. With a rise in body temperature usually begins a serous discharge from the nose that becomes mucoplantic, dries out and forms scabs that clog the nostrils which cause difficulty breathing and severe sneezing. Purulent eye inflammation also develops, which can cause the eyelids to become infected. At the same time, necrotic inflammation of the mouth develops, involving the hard palate, cheeks and tongue. Inflammation is manifested in superficial necrosis foci causing bleeding. Runny, but not bloody diarrhea develops, resulting in a decrease in weight and constant dehydration. In the later stages of the disease severe pneumonia accompanied by severe cough usually develops. Death usually occurs after 5-10 days.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is usually made by the diseases' clinical markers and by detection of the virus antigen, by immunohisochemical examination, or by PCR detection by the virus.

Differential Diagnosis

Foot-and-mouth disease, blue tongue, aneurysm, pneumonia caused by the bacterium Mannhemia heamolytica, coccidiosis.

Treatment

The best treatment is supportive care. Prevention is done by vaccination - the vaccine is a ruminant plague vaccine and it provides good protection for the sheep.