Epidemiological study of peste des petits ruminants in sheep and goat during 2005-2017 in Palestine

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the epidemiological occurrence of Peste des petits ruminants in sheep and goat in Palestine during 2005-2017. Data were collected from the annual agricultural census released by the Palestinian central bureau of statistics and the reports of world organization for animal health, submitted by the general directorate of veterinary services and animal health between 2005 and 2017. The study indicated that Peste des petits ruminants is enzootic in Palestine, reported in each year of the study period. The incidence rate ranged from 1.78 to 14.36% with an average of 6.39% per year and per 104 animals. The average morbidity, morbidity and case fatality rate were 8.89%, 2.89%, and 33.57% respectively. Temporal analysis obtained that Peste des petits ruminants is more epizootic in the dry season between April and August with a significant peak on June. The Peste des petits ruminants vaccination rate in Palestine was low and not well organized, ranged from 0.77-34.39% with an average rate of 9%. The appropriate data recording, improving owner awareness, expand the use of the Peste des petits ruminants vaccine and a systematic disease monitoring program are required to control the spread of the disease.