[Evaluation of vaccinal protection against rinderpest in Cameroon. III. General evaluation]

The national veterinary Laboratory, Garoua (Cameroon) has been carrying out rinderpest sero-surveillance since 1989 as part of an effort made by the Panafrican Rinderpest Campaign (PARC) to control rinderpest in Africa. In 1993, 8517 serum samples collected from 286 cattle herds (from 0 to 3 years old) randomly chosen from six provinces with large cattle population (Far-North, North, Adamaoua, East, West, North-West) were tested using the rinderpest competitive ELISA technique; the herd immunity level was 54%. Out of 2010 serum samples from 68 non-protected cattle herds tested using the peste des petits ruminants (PPR) ELISA technique, 91 samples were positive (4.5%): this does not significantly increase the cattle immunity level against rinderpest. Significant differences in the immunity rates between provinces were observed. Suggestions to increase the immunity level are discussed.