THE ISOLATION OF PESTE DES PETITS RUMINANTS VIRUS FROM NORTHERN INDIA

The aetiological agent responsible for an epizootic of a rinderpest-li ke disease afflicting sheep and goats in three states of northern Indi a was confirmed as peste des petits ruminants virus. To differentiate the virus from rinderpest a number of diagnostic tests were used, incl uding immunocapture ELISA, specific oligonucleotide primers in a rever se transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence with vi rus specific monoclonal antibodies and virus isolation. The virulence profile of one isolate in cattle sheep and goats was established, Infe cted animals developed specific antibody responses and excreted specif ic antigen in their lachrymal secretions.