Clinical, pathological and antigenic diagnosis of Peste des Petits Ruminants in small ruminants in Fars province

Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is an acute and contagious viral disease in domestic and wild ruminants, which causes a lot of economic damages. In this study, from a total of 56 sheep and goats suspected to the natural outbreak of PPR in different regions of Fars province, swap samples were taken from 16 cases for detection of PPRV antigen by Immunocapture ELISA test. Also, 6 cases were necropsied and tissue samples of affected organs were fixed in 10% natural buffered formalin for histopathological examination. Clinically, high fever, anorexia, nasal and eye mucopurulent discharge and existence of erosive to ulcerative lesions in the oral mucosa and diarrhea were observed. At necropsy, erosive to ulcerative lesions covered with white to gray pseudomembranes in the oral cavity, hyperemia, and consolidation of anteroventral and cardiac lobes of lungs, erosive lesions in intestines and mesenteric and mediastinal lymphadenopathy was seen. In the histopathological examination, erosive-ulcerative stomatitis associated with hydropic degeneration, syncytial cell formation and intracytoplasmic/intranuclear inclusion bodies, interstitial pneumonia associated with giant syncytial cell formation and inclusion bodies within alveolar and bronchiolar epitheliums were diagnosed. Immunocapture ELISA test showed 15 (93%) of 16 cases were positive for PPRV antigen. Rapid diagnosis and implementation of control and prevention programs are emphasized in order to prevent significant economic losses to the small ruminant industry.