AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC STUDY OF PESTE DES PETITS RUMINANTS IN IRAQ

One thousand one hundred thirty eight blood samples of small ruminants (sheep & goats) were used. These samples were collected randomly from different Iraqi provinces. Competitive ELISA (C-ELISA) test was performed on the serum of those samples to detect the special antibodies ofPeste Des Petits Ruminants Virus (PPRV). The virus was diagnosed at the first time in Iraq by using Immuno Capture ELISA (IC-ELISA) technique. Thirty hundred fifty five serum samples were positive with the percentage of 31.19% in Iraq as a whole. Nineveh and Salahddin provinces were showed an incident of rate 64.41% with a significant difference from other provinces, a matter, which led to consider them as the possible source of infection. In Baghdad, Wasset, Diyala, Anbar and Babil provinces the percentage was 36.25%. Whereas the percentage in Thi-Qar, Najaf, Qadissiya, Muthanna and Meisan provinces was 8%. (IC-ELISA) technique has proved to be successful in diagnosing the virus and consequently isolating it from four samples. Out of 27 different samples taken from small ruminants suspected to be infected with PPR. These samples were inoculated in tissue cultures for previously prepared lamb kidney cells (LK). Three days later, they showed the cytopathic effects. When samples of those cultures were re-tested by using IC-ELISA, they were also positive. It was concluded from this study that the incidence of the disease (PPRV) was high and ELISA could be used for their diagnosis.