Abstract

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an important viral disease of sheep and goats, it causes huge economic losses in susceptible animals. The prevalence of PPR in sheep and goats in White Nile State, Sudan was studied; passive haemagglutinatin test (PHA)  and competitive ELISA were used to detect PPR antibodies in 517 serum samples collected from animals that showed symptoms suggestive of PPR disease as well as from clinically healthy ones at White Nile State, Sudan. The serum samples were tested for presence of PPRV antibodies using cELISA and PHA test. The results obtained by PHA were compared with that of ELISA. 314 (60%) of serum samples were positive by cELISA while 291(56.2%) were positive by PHA. By both tests, 262 (83%) out of the tested samples were found positive for PPRV antibodies. The agreement between the two tests was 84.3%, the relative sensitivity was 84% and specificity was 85.2%. Age and localities appears to be risk factor for cELISA and PHA PPR seropositivity. PHA was found to be a useful technique for detecting PPRV antibodies.

Key words: Peste des petits ruminants, passive haemagglutination test, cELISA.