By: Talatu Patience Markusa, Jibril Adamua, Haruna Makanjuola Kazeema, Olushola Samuel Olaolua, Timothy Yusufu Womab
Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an endemic disease of small ruminants in Nigeria and routine vaccination is the mainstay for its prevention and control. This study was aimed to assess PPR antibodies in vaccinated pregnant does and subsequent maternal immunity in their kids post parturition (PP). Twelve apparently healthy pregnant Kano brown does were used for this study. Pregnancy (third trimester) was confirmed by ultrasonography.
Does were vaccinated using Nigerian 75/1 PPR strain vaccine produced by the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Vom, Nigeria. Blood was collected from does and sera harvested pre-vaccination (PrV), one week post vaccination (PV) and at two weeks interval for up to 12 weeks PP. Sera were collected from kids at two weeks of age and at two weeks interval for up to 12 weeks PP. Sera were tested for PPR antibodies using competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA).
Results showed that 100% of vaccinated does had and maintained protective PPR antibodies PV. There was significant difference (P < 0.05) in mean PPR cELISA antibodies PrV and PV, but no significant difference (P < 0.05) at different time intervals PV. Kids had protective maternal PPR antibodies up to four weeks (100%=6 kids), six weeks (83.3%=5 kids), eight weeks (50%=3kids), 10weeks (16.7%=1kid) and none (0%) at 12 weeks PP.
The OIE and FAO jointly agreed in 2015 to put an end to PPR globally by 2030 and part of the measures they had set out to achieve this mandate was through strategic vaccination of kids and lambs from 3 months and above, this study has shown that for certain breeds of animals such as the Kano brown 3 months is rather too late as the kids would have long lost their maternal immunity leaving them more vulnerable to this dreaded disease. We recommend that Kano brown kids born to vaccinated does be immunized at 10 weeks of age as more than 80% of the kids had lost maternal immunity. It is therefore recommended that further studies be carried out on other breeds of goats using the available vaccine in that area to ascertain the most appropriate time of vaccination of the young animals to avoid any window of susceptibility rather than waiting till these animals reach 3 months of age as this will go a long way in achieving the eradication of this disease.
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