Is PPR Epidemiological Research Addressing Global Eradication Priorities? A Scoping Review (2015-2025)

The PPR Global Research and Expertise Network (GREN) plays a central role in identifying research priorities supporting the Global Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) Eradication Programme (GEP). A scoping review of PPR epidemiological research published between 2015 and 2025 was conducted to assess progress and remaining gaps across research domains relevant to GREN priorities. A total of 670 PPR-related publications were retrieved. Epidemiological research constituted 46.9% of the PPR literature, pathogenesis (19.1%), and diagnostics (15.6%), followed by vaccinology (9.5%) and immunology (7.9%). From the 273 epidemiological studies, most originated from Africa (53.1%) and Asia (37.7%). The epidemiological studies were categorized into seven domains. Molecular epidemiology and virus strain characterization represented the largest proportion of published studies (40.0%), followed by surveillance and disease monitoring (23.8%), transmission dynamics and risk modelling (12.5%), vaccination epidemiology (10.6%), analytical and risk factor epidemiology (8.4%), control strategy evaluation (2.9%), and socioeconomic research (1.8%). Progress towards GREN research priorities was variable. Molecular epidemiology and surveillance demonstrated the greatest methodological advancement, supported by widespread application of phylogenetics, serological surveillance, and expanding sequencing capacity across endemic settings. Transmission dynamics and risk modelling also showed increasing analytical sophistication through spatial modelling, network analysis, ecological suitability modelling, and dynamic simulation approaches, although applications remained geographically concentrated and only partially integrated into operational decision-support systems. In contrast, vaccination epidemiology, comparative evaluation of control strategies, and socioeconomic research remained limited in volume and operational integration. Across domains, important gaps persisted in implementation-focused evaluation, integrated surveillance systems, and translation of research evidence into adaptive eradication planning and policy development. Overall, the findings demonstrate substantial growth in the global PPR epidemiological evidence base over the past decade but also reveal a persistent imbalance across research domains and geographies. While major advances have been achieved in molecular characterization and descriptive surveillance, greater integration of epidemiological, operational, modelling, and socioeconomic evidence is needed to strengthen adaptive eradication planning and improve alignment between research priorities and policy implementation. Research and policy need to be better integrated, with policy needs driving research focus and research findings then informing policy. Experience from rinderpest eradication demonstrates that strong research-policy interfaces are essential to ensure that scientific evidence is translated into effective eradication strategies and decision-making.