Scientists at The Pirbright Institute have conducted the first study to directly compare the ability of two peste des petits ruminants (PPR) vaccines to protect susceptible animals against wildtype viruses from any of the four genetic lineages of PPR virus. Through analysing the immune response of goats that were administered the vaccines, they were able to demonstrate that both vaccines could completely protect against clinical signs of the disease.
Results published in the Journal of Virology provide new information about how the vaccines protect susceptible animals, detailing both antibody and immune cell responses which will further contribute to our understanding of the immune responses conferring protection against PPRV infection. The two vaccines tested are the most commonly used across the globe; PPRV/Nigeria/75/1 (N75) is used in most countries outside of India and PPRV/India/Sungri/96 (S96) is used exclusively in India.
“More information on the efficiency of available PPRV vaccines was needed to facilitate vaccine supply and better regional vaccine uptake”, said Dr Karin Darpel, Head of the Orbivirus group at Pirbright.
PPRV causes a severe disease of sheep and goats, and has recently been targeted for control and eradication by the World Organistation for Animal Health (OIE) following its rapid spread across large parts of Africa, the Middle East and Asia over the last two decades. “Through demonstrating that both vaccines can be used against all PPR viruses in any country, we have confirmed that global vaccine supplies can be used more flexibly during the eradication campaign”, finished Dr. Baron, OIE Expert on Rinderpest and PPR.