Seroprevalence of Peste Des Petits Ruminants among Goats and Sheep in Enugu State of Nigeria.

Prevalence of Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), a viral disease of small ruminants was studied in Enugu State. A total of six hundred and fifty five (655) serum samples (429 from goats and 226 from sheep) were collected between May, 2010 and April, 2011 from various farms that had no history of vaccination against the disease. The samples were screened for antibodies against PPR virus, using the competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). The prevalence rate of PPR varied across local government areas 38.9% in Enugu-East to 57% in Enugu-Ezike, sexes from to 33% in male to 56% in females and age groups from 5.3% in those <1 to 78% in those >3 years of age, with a state specific prevalence rate of 47% (p≤0.01). This prevalence estimate compares with 50% recorded in some Weredas goats and sheep in Ethiopia. Sex, species and age as well as location are of epidemiologic importance. Therefore, vaccination of goats and sheep against PPR virus is important in this part of the country.Keywords: Prevalence, Peste des petits ruminant