An outbreak of Peste des Petits Ruminants Among Thelichery Breed of Goats

An outbreak of Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and mortality among Thelicherry breed of goats was investigated. Specimens collected from the affected animals were negative by haemagglutination test with chicken erythrocytes, but positive when tested in counter immunoelectrophoresis with PPR virus (PPRV) specific antiserum. Virus isolation was done in Vero cell line. The cytopathogenic effect was characterized by fusion of cells with a clock face appearance. Pathological lesions included focal areas of erosion in the abomasal mucosa and intestinal lamina propria, conjunctivitis, congestion, and haemorrhages in the Peyer’s patches, lungs, and spleen. Syncytia formations in the lungs, containing intranuclear eosinophilic inclusion bodies, were noticed. Specific diagnosis of the disease as PPR was confirmed by Polymerase chain reaction with N and M gene specific primers. Possible reasons for high mortality (100% for kids and 87.5% for adult goats) in Thelichery breed of goats during a natural outbreak of PPR and diagnosis of the disease using a panel of tests with merits and demerits have been discussed.