Molecular diagnosis of recent suspected outbreaks of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an economically important viral disease of goats and sheep. It is endemic in Nigeria and was first described in West Africa in the 1940s. Clinically, PPR can be confused with other infections such as pasteurellosis or contagious ecthyma and mild strain of rinderpest in small ruminants. Effective implementation of control measures for PPR requires that a proper and rapid diagnosis of the disease is made. Therefore, the use of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction to analyze suspected field samples collected from sheep and goats in Yola, Adamawa State has helped to give urgent diagnosis that was needed to effectively control the spread of the disease. The samples collected on filter paper were suitable source of the viral RNA. Key words: Peste des petits ruminants, Morbillivirus, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, diagnosis.