Dear Colleagues,

I am Akiko Kamata and I have worked in AGAH/EMPRES for 10 years which included collecting rinderpest literature for a database in mid 90s.

I agree with Dr Mtui (contribution on Wednesday 19th February) on the need for more research into PPR. In 1995, when GREP started, there were > 5000 research publications on rinderpest available and relatively accessible. At that time, I could not easily reach articles published before the 1950s, especially those published in languages other than in English or French, and even so there were >5000. Nowadays even very old publications are available online. For PPR in 2014, however, the list of publications is currently around 1000 although increasing. Although many aspects of PPR are presumed to be 'probably similar to rinderpest', a list of specific issues that require confirmation work may be needed. For instance,  there have been instances where known virulent virus did not induce clinical signs when inoculated into susceptible species. Why would this be? Why have PPRV sero-positive sheep and goats been found in previously naive populations without
 any reports of massive die-off? I think that a coordinated list of research requirements may give a sense of priority to this work which will encourage research units and funding agencies alike. Such research results must be publicly accessible (best if published) so that national veterinary services that are facing PPR risks can use such information when they conduct surveillance, negotiate with decision makers, explain stakeholders with confidence.

regards,

Akiko Kamata.

With good participation from field and laboratory stakeholders I can see PPR-GREN  being able to prioritize research needs and provide a good forum for the discussion and possible resolution of inconsistent findings such as you mention.  With your experience with this subject I wonder if PPR-GREN might be a suitable medium in which to build an archive of PPR studies, both published and unpublished, that is accessible to everyone?  Or is Google enough? - Moderator.

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