Epidemiological Investigation of Peste des Petits Ruminants in Bahrain.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Epidemiology
• Infectious Disease Control
• Livestock Health Management

Background:

• Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious transboundary disease affecting small ruminants, posing significant threats to livestock production and trade.
• Understanding PPR seroprevalence and risk factors is crucial for effective disease control strategies in affected regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the seroprevalence and identify associated risk factors of Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in sheep, goats, camels, and wild ruminants in Bahrain.
• To assess the current status of PPR virus circulation and support disease control pathway classification.

Main Methods:

• Competitive ELISA was used to test 1240 sheep, 1224 goats, 100 camels, and 38 wild ruminants for PPR antibodies.
• Risk factor analysis was conducted at both individual and flock/herd levels.
• A 2023-2024 surveillance campaign utilized cELISA and RT-PCR on 1044 young animals to detect active virus circulation.

Main Results:

• Seroprevalence rates for PPR were 26% in sheep and 25.5% in goats; flock-level prevalences were 22.7% and 29.6%, respectively.
• No PPR antibodies were detected in camels or wild ruminants. Highest seroprevalence was in the Northern governorate.
• Risk factors included geographic location, age, sex, health status, large flock size, and semi-intensive farming. Surveillance confirmed no active virus circulation.

Conclusions:

• Bahrain exhibits significant PPR seroprevalence in sheep and goats, influenced by various risk factors.
• Recent surveillance indicates the absence of active PPR virus circulation, supporting Bahrain's Progressive Control Pathway for PPR (PCP-PPR) Level 3 status.
• Continued surveillance and regional cooperation are essential for mitigating PPR spread and maintaining disease-free status.