Evidence of Peste des petits ruminants virus antibodies in small ruminants in Amuru and Gulu Districts, Uganda.

The study investigated evidence of antibodies against Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) in apparently healthy sheep and goats in Amuru and Gulu districts in Uganda. A total of 474 blood samples were collected in thirty nine internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in seventeen sub-counties, from goats and sheep with no record of previous vaccination. The prevalence of antibodies against PPRV in goats was 12.5 and 0% in Amuru and Gulu districts while in sheep the prevalence of antibodies against PPRV was 16.5 and 11.1% in the respective districts. This is the first report on PPR antibodies in small ruminants in Northern Uganda. There is need to determine the prevalence of antibodies against PPRV in other surrounding districts in Northern Uganda and an attempt should be made to characterize the circulating PPRV. (C) 2011 PVJ. All rights reserved