PESTE DES PETITS RUMINANTS VACCINATION AWARENESS AND CONSULTATION OF VETERINARY SERVICES AMONGST SMALL RUMINANT FARMERS IN SOUTH EAST NIGERIA

Abstract

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) has been identified as one of the major diseases that pose a serious
challenge to successful small ruminant farming. It is acute, highly contagious, trans-boundary viral
disease of sheep and goats that poses a threat to livestock production in many developing countries
and produces variable rates of morbidity and mortality that can reach 100% and 90%, respectively
(El-Yuguda et al., 2009). The economic loss due to PPR outbreaks in Nigeria was estimated to be 6.8
billions of Naira (NGN) (Fadiga et al., 2013). Close contact between susceptible animals is important
for the transmission of PPR virus (the aetiologic agent) to occur as discharges from the eyes, nose,
mouth, as well as the loose faeces contain large amounts of this virus. Fine infective droplets are
released into the air from these secretions and excretions, particularly when affected animals cough
and sneeze (Ezeibe et al., 2008). There is no specific treatment for PPR. The most effective control
measures among others is mass vaccination of small ruminants with the homologous PPR vaccine
(OIE, 2012). The homologous PPR vaccine has been widely used to protect small ruminants against
PPR virus, but outbreak of the disease is still being reported and thus the continuous spread of PPR
infection (Albina, et al., 2013). This study was conducted to find out the level of PPR vaccination
awareness and consultation of veterinary service amongst small ruminant farmers in South East
Nigeria.