Prevalence of suspected peste des petits ruminants infection and complicating bacteria in goats in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is endemic in Nigeria and causes major economic losses due to the high rates of mortality and morbidity in infected domestic sheep and goats. The outbreak of PPR in some goat herds was observed in the Abeokuta area of Ogun State, Nigeria, between January and August, 2014. Amongst the herds affected were those of the research animal in the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta. The goat herds were located in the Directorate of the University Farms (DUFARMS), the University environments and Apakila. The goats were intensively managed on concentrates and Panicum maximiun grass. The morbidity rates were 80-100 per cent in all the herds while mortality rates varied from 10% to 70%. Disease diagnosis was based on history, clinical signs and Post-mortem lesions. Complicating secondary bacteria were isolated from nasal and ocular discharges, which isolated, identified and sensitivity results obtained from laboratory tests. Treatments were carried out with sensitive antibiotics, analgesics and fluid therapy in a symptomatic approach. We conclude that PPR is endemic in this area of study and is responsible for a great loss in goat production and poverty of the rural goat farmers. We recommend that vaccination against PPR in this study area be instituted to avert the deleterious effects of the disease.