Possible control and eradication of peste des petits ruminants from India: technical aspects

The peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an acute and highly contagious, notifiable viral disease of sheep and goats that causes substantial morbidity and mortality. There are three cell culture-based live attenuated PPR vaccines available (one from an African isolate and two from Indian isolates). The PPR vaccine produced by the Indian Veterinary Research Institute has been extensively evaluated in the field and found safe and potent in sheep and goats in India. Diagnostic tests, such as the sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (s-ELISA), competitive ELISA, single and duplex reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCRs) and RT-PCR-ELISA at the Indian Veterinary Research Institute have also been validated on a large scale. Furthermore, the expertise that remained after the successful eradication of rinderpest in the National Project on Rinderpest Eradication can be utilised effectively for the eradication of PPR without much additional budgetary expense. Thus, the availability of an effective vaccine, accurate diagnostic tests for PPR and an experienced infrastructure prompt us to propose a national project for a peste des petits ruminants eradication programme on the lines of National Project on Rinderpest Eradication. This would greatly enhance the prospects of PPR eradication not only on a national level but also from the Asian continent, alleviate poverty and, in turn, contribute to the national economy.