Serosurveillance for peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and rinderpest antibodies in naturally exposed Saudi sheep and goats

This study represents the first survey for serum antibodies against peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and rinderpest (RP) viruses, in sheep and goats in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study involved the Eastern region of the country. A total of 1035 serum samples were examined (750 sheep and 285 goats). In order to obtain a genuine insight into the activity of the two viruses as reflected by seroconversion, serum samples were collected only from sedentary, locally-bred, non-vaccinated sheep and goats that were more than one year old. The number of samples collected followed standard epidemiological criteria in similar situations. The prevalence of PPR virus antibodies was 3.1% in sheep and 0.6% in goats, while that of RPV antibodies was 3.6% in sheep and 5.7% in goats. Generally speaking, the prevalence of PPRV antibodies in both species was 2.3%, while that of RPV was 4.3%.The mono-specific reactivity in both species was 93.2 % for rinderpest and 66.7 % for PPR.