Dear Colleagues,
PPR as the next viral disease to be eradicated is a great idea and achieveable objective in a quite short time to compare to RP because we have learnt a lot about RP and its package of control strategies and policies.
Different points have been highlighted during this e-conference regarding the epidemiology, diagnosis, control with current vaccine or thermotolerant vaccine.
From my expereince , PPR remains endemic in sub-saharian countries where it is reported on a regular basis mainly during the rainy season and this idease is quite well known by farmers/owners even though some confusion can occur with other diseases due internal parasites. In this situation the determination of the prevalence of the disease in these countries is a good epidemiological parameter but should not be a prerequisite to the control of the disease.
Role of different probable hosts such as wildlife, cattle, camel is weakly documented . However regarding PPR in cattle I inoculated various PPRV strains in cattle, got seroconversion and any clinical signs. Maybe this experiment needs further investigation. I did this experiment 3times. About wildlife, I found few positive cases by serology (serum samples collected in Ivory-Coast and CAR) and PCR positive cases involving mainly buffaloes and Kobus kobus. No clinical sign was reported. In Ivory-Coast these samples were collected from the national park surrounded by villages with small ruminants grazing in this park. This epidemiological figure can be seen in many african countries. PPR in camel is an interesting subject to investigate deeply. My question to those who work on : what is the response to PPR Vaccine???
Current attenuated vaccine Vs thermostable / thermotolerant vaccine : just to say that thermstable vaccine does not mean NO Cold chain. After dilution of this vaccine is fragile like the current attenuated vaccine in use so cold chain is still needed. Using this vaccine in a region gives a very good result as observed in Ivory-Coast. so the current live vaccine with a quality label delivered by PANVAC through a well planned vaccination programme will give us satisfaction. We have learnt this from RP: strong involvement of Vet services, quality of vaccine, cold chain, defined diluent to be used, field staff well trained and refreshed, followed by seromonitoring programme).
Resurgence of PPR now?? I don't think so. Yes PPR is spreading but for the whole west and central african countries PPR was and is still there with its load of mortality!
One colleague from Paksitan talked about vertical transmission of PPRV: I'm afraid and need to be fully investigated
My best regards to all
E. Couacy-Hymann
Head of Viology Lab
Ivory-Coast