Determination of Peste Des Petits Ruminants Seroprevalence in Large Ruminants in Egypt with Analysis of Associated Risk Factors in Buffaloes

Hamdy, Abdelhamed Moataz; Ahmed, Bassem; Fayed, Adel; Refaei, Omnia

doi:10.21608/ejvs.2025.332903.2470

Determination of Peste Des Petits Ruminants Seroprevalence in Large Ruminants in Egypt with Analysis of Associated Risk Factors in Buffaloes

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University,Giza, Egypt

² Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza,Egypt

³ Department of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

10.21608/ejvs.2025.332903.2470

Abstract

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious, notifiable viral disease that can cross the species barrier. This study assessed the seroprevalence of PPR in buffalo and cattle across seven governorates in Egypt. Blood samples were randomly collected from 345 clinically healthy animals (229 buffaloes and 116 cattle) coexisting with small ruminants. Sera were tested for PPR virus (PPRV) specific antibodies using a commercial competitive ELISA kit. The overall seroprevalence was 8.116% (28/345) (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 5.7- 11.5%), with 6.897% (8/116) (95% CI 3.5- 13%) of cattle and 8.734% (20/229) (95% CI 5.7-13.1%) of buffaloes tested positive. These results suggest exposure and seroconversion to PPRV in both cattle and buffalo mixed with small ruminants. There was no significant difference in seroprevalence between cattle and buffalo (P=0.555). In buffaloes, age and sex were significantly associated with PPR seropositivity (P< 0.005), while location had no effect (P = 0.437). Female buffaloes and older animals (>4 – 6 and >6 years) showed significantly higher seropositivity than males (odds ratio [OR]= 4.347, 95% CI 1.603, 11.79) and younger buffaloes (2–4) (OR= 8.063, 95% CI 1.835, 35.42 and OR= 8.716, 95% CI 2.584, 29.4, respectively). The significantly higher seropositivity in older and female buffaloes is possibly due to frequent and cumulative virus exposure and stressors that female buffaloes are exposed to. This study highlights the importance of large ruminants serosurveillance to assess subclinical virus circulation in small ruminants, particularly in endemic area where routine vaccination program is applied.

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