Abstract:
Peste des petits ruminants, caused by the peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV), is a highly
contagious and economically important transboundary viral disease of domestic and wild
small ruminants and a major hindrance to small-ruminant production in Nigeria. The
seroprevalence and distribution of PPRV antibodies in small ruminants in rural households,
farms, live animal markets and slaughter slabs across the six different agro-ecological zones of
Nigeria were determined. A total of 4548 serum samples from 3489 goats and 1059 sheep were
collected in 12 states. A PPRV competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to
test the samples and the data analysed with R statistical software version 3.0.1. The study
animals included all ages and both sexes. The overall prevalence estimate of sera positive for
PPRV antibodies was 23.16% (n = 1018 positive samples per 4548 total samples, 95% confidence
interval: 21.79% – 24.57%). There were significant differences in the seroprevalence between
the states ( p = 0.001). Taraba State had the highest seroprevalence of 29.51%, whilst the lowest
seroprevalence of 14.52% was observed in Cross River State. There were no significant
differences in the PPRV seroprevalence between male and female animals ( p = 0.571), age
( p = 0.323) and between species ( p = 0.639). These data indicate the current seroprevalence to
PPRV in the small-ruminant population in Nigeria.
