Peste de petits ruminants in Nigeria: a review.

SUMMARY Peste de petits ruminants (PPR) is considered the most important single cause of high morbidity and mortality in sheep and goat eliciting great economic loss to small – holder farmers in Nigeria. It is a contagious rinderpest–like viral disease belonging to the morbillivirus group of paramyxovirus family of viruses. PPR infection has been recognized in many African countries that lie between the Atlantic Ocean and the red sea, and in recent years in near East and other Asian countries. Its presence close to European borders (western Turkey) makes it a threat to Europe. Confirmation of diagnosis requires the resources of a specialist laboratory since differentiating between PPR virus (PPRV) and rinderpest virus (RPV) can be difficult. Control of PPR outbreak relies on quarantine, ring vaccination and prophylactic immunization.