GEOGRAPHIC-DISTRIBUTION AND EPIDEMIOLOGY OF PESTE DES PETITS RUMINANTS VIRUSES

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an important viral disease of goat s and sheep prevalent in West Africa and the Middle Fast. In recent ye ars, PPR has emerged in India, first in the South India and later in N orth India. To study the genetic relationships between viruses of dist inct geographical origin we have sequenced a 322 nucleotide cDNA fragm ent of the fusion protein gene generated using reverse transcription f ollowed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Viruses from nineteen independent PPR outbreaks were compared; these included the prototype African strain from Senegal and viruses from disease outbrea ks which have occurred al different limes and locations across Africa, Arabia, the Near East and the Indian subcontinent. Four separate line ages of the virus were identified and the virus isolates from Asia ove r the past 2 years were all of one lineage which had not previously be en identified in Africa or Asia.