Co-infections, risk factors and challenges to control of Sheeppox, Goatpox and Peste des petits ruminants in small ruminants in Sembabule District

Abstract

Small ruminant production supports many households in sub-Saharan Africa as a source of livelihood and food security, however, diseases like Pestes des Petit Ruminants (PPR) and Sheep and Goatpox (SGP) which are highly contagious notifiable viral diseases of small ruminants that cause huge losses to livestock dependent livelihoods and economies. The two diseases share the same host species and coincidentally they sometimes co-exist in a single animal and cause a co-infection that is more challenging to manage. We conducted this study in Sembabule district to determine the Sero-prevalence, risk factors and challenges to the control of Goatpox (GP), Sheeppox, PPR and the co-infection of these diseases by AHW. A total of 703 blood samples were collected and processed for ELISA analysis to determine the Sero-prevalence of the two diseases, in addition, information about the risk factors associated with the occurrence of the two diseases of PPR, Goatpox and Sheeppox and challenges to their control were obtained using a questionnaire on 45 farmers and semi structured interviews to 18 Animal Health Workers in the study area. The Sero-prevalence of SGP and PPR was 5.40%, and 46.37% respectively. SGP and PPR co-infection prevalence was 4.13%. PPR was more prevalent than SGP in both species while sheep were slightly more seropositive SGP and PPR-SGP co-infection in this study area. Location of farms by sub-county, age group and herd size were found to be important risk factors for the Goatpox, Sheeppox and SGP-PPR co-infection in Sembabule district. Lwebitakuli sub-county had the highest Sero-prevalence for SGP and overall co-infection prevalence, while Lwemiyaga sub-county had the highest prevalence of PPR and according to the AHW, the challenges to the control of the two diseases included; uncontrolled livestock movements, continued open markets during outbreaks, inadequate availability of vaccines, vaccination as side effects and poor record keeping by farmers and we is therefore recommended that government should take up control of these diseases and approach to control them at ago like use of combined vaccine should be used.