13/07/2020
Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious viral disease of sheep and
goats. Heavy losses can be seen, especially in goats; all of the affected animals in
some herds may die.
Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) is a member of the genus Morbillivirus
in the family Paramyxoviridae. Four genetic lineages (lineages 1-4) have been
identified.
Among domesticated animals, peste des petits ruminants is primarily a disease of
goats and sheep.
Peste des petits ruminants occurs in Africa, in most of the Middle East, and in parts of Asia including much of the Indian subcontinent.
The incubation period can range from 2 to 10 days; in most cases, clinical signs appear in 2-6 days.
Common clinical sings are sudden high fever, inappetence, marked depression and somnolence, serous
nasal and ocular discharges generally become mucopurulent, matting is common
around the eyes, and the nose may become obstructed, gums become
hyperemic, and small, gray, necrotic foci, covering shallow erosions, begin to appear in the mouth, can also be found on the dental pad, palate, cheeks and their papillae, and tongue.
Most animals develop profuse diarrhea, which may be watery, fetid and/
or blood-stained, and sometimes contain shreds of tissue.
The postmortem lesions are characterized by inflammatory and necrotic lesions in the oral cavity and throughout the gastrointestinal tract. The lips often have prominent crusty scabs, and necrotic stomatitis is common.
The Peyer’s patches often have extensive necrosis, which can lead to ulceration.Zebra stripes or tiger stripes of congestion, hemorrhage or darkened tissue can sometimes be seen in the posterior part of the colon on the mucosal folds.
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