title: Epidemiological investigation into the introduction and factors for spread of Peste des Petits Ruminants, southern Tanzania.
abstract: A study was carried out to confirm and identify sources and elucidate factors associated with  the introduction of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in southern Tanzania. This study was  conducted in Tandahimba and Newala districts of Mtwara region following suspected outbreak  of PPR in the area. Qualitative data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires and  in-depth interviews of key informants who included goat and sheep owners with suspected  cases of PPR and animal health service providers as well as local administrative authority.  Additionally, 216 serum samples and 28 swabs were collected for serological and virological  laboratory disease confirmation. The results show that PPR was first introduced in Likuna  village of Newala district in February 2009 through newly purchased goats from the Pugu  livestock market located about 700 km in the outskirts of Dar es Salaam city. Factors which  contributed to spread of PPR included communal grazing and the cheap prices of sick animals  bought by livestock keepers for slaughtering in other villages. Laboratory findings confirmed  presence of PPR in the area by RT-PCR and serological analysis revealed that seroprevalence  was 31%. These findings have confirmed, for the first time, introduction of PPR in southern  Tanzania. The presence of PPR poses high risk of southward spread of the disease to other  southern African countries in the SADC region thus calling for concerted and collaborative  efforts in prevention and control of the disease to avoid losses. Further elaborate studies on the  spread, prevalence and risk factors associated with the disease should urgently be investigated.
authors: Department of Veterinary Microbiology and   Parasitology, Sokoine University of Agriculture. epaphrasa@gmail.com.
authors: Epaphras A
authors: EA
authors: Muse
authors: Esron D
authors: ED
authors: Karimuribo
authors: George C
authors: GC
authors: Gitao
authors: Gerald
authors: G
authors: Misinzo
authors: Lesakit S B
authors: LS
authors: Mellau
authors: Peter L M
authors: PL
authors: Msoffe
authors: Emmanuel S
authors: ES
authors: Swai
authors: Mbyuzi O
authors: MO
authors: Albano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006041:Goats; D008297:Male; D029021:Peste-des-Petits-Ruminants / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D018107:Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus / Q000276:immunology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral