Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) also famous as goat plaque is of viral origin and is extremely contagious disease of sheep and goat (Dhar et al. 2002; Asim et al. 2009). PPR can cause high mortality about 50 – 80 % in non-immunized sheep and goat population. Due to its similarity with other diseases, Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is being devalued but at the same time it is said to be one of the major constraints to successful small ruminant farming in tropics (Sen et al. 2010). PPR virus is paramyxovirus, enveloped and belongs to the genus morbillivirus. These viruses comprise of 16Kb long, single stranded RNA showing negative polarity (Barrett et al. 2005).
The various vaccines like homologous and recombinant vaccines have been manufactured for the management of Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), as no accurate treatment is available for its control. For the immunity of animals against this disease, the tissue culture based, attenuated rinderpest vaccine (TCRV) had been accustomed over a extensive period because of the antigenic association among RPV and PPRV (Diallo et al. 1989).With the help of fresh freeze-drying methods and stabilizing agents the thermostability of the present PPR homologous vaccine has been enhanced significantly (Worrwall et al. 2001).
In Pakistan, PPR vaccine was manufactured with the help of PPRV Nigerian 75/I (PPR 75/1 LK 6 Vero 75) for the sheep and goat immunization (Asim et al. 2009). India had manufactured numerous live attenuated vaccines like the PPRV Sungri/96 that has been regularized for use (Hegde et al. 2008). ). The Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPRV-Sungri/96 ) vaccine is being manufactured on small and large scale for prevention of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) outbreaks in India (Singh et al. 2004).
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The current study was designed to study the immunogenicity of two imported live attenuated PPR vaccines in local sheep. A total of sixty (60) animals were selected and further separated into two groups, viz. Group-A and Group-B, having thirty (30) animals each. Group-A was further sub-divided into A1 comprising 10 sheep to which Raksha PPR vaccine (Sungri 96) was administered, A2 comprising of 10 sheep to which PPR vaccine (Nigeria 75/1) was administered and A3 comprising of 10 non-vaccinated sheep which served as control. Group B was separated into two sub-groups i.e B1 and B2 having fifteen (15) animals each. The Group-B1 was sub-divided into B1a having 05 sheep to which Raksha PPR vaccine (Sungri 96) was only administered, B1b having 05 sheep to which along with Raksha PPR vaccine (Sungri 96), Vitamin AD3E was administered and B1c having 05 unvaccinated sheep which served as control.
Similarly the Group-B2 was sub-divided into B2a having 05 sheep to which PPR vaccine (Nigeria 75/1) was only administered, B2b having 05 sheep to which along with PPR vaccine (Nigeria 75/1), Vitamin AD3E was administered and B2c having 05 non-vaccinated sheep and served as control group respectively. The serum samples were collected and mean antibody titer was calculated by complement fixation test (CFT) at zero day, 7th day, 14th day, 28th day and 48th day post-vaccination.
The live attenuated, Raksha PPR (Sungri 96) vaccine induced the mean antibody titers of 0 ±0.00, 4.7±0.48, 4.7±0.48, 4.9±0.31 and 4.9±0.31 which was significantly higher than the mean antibody titers shown by the PPR (Nigeria 75/1) vaccinated animals i.e. 0±0.00, 3.3±0.51, 3.4±0.51, 4±1.15 and 4.1±1.19 at zero, 7th, 14th, 28th, 48th day post-vaccination respectively. Similarly the mean antibody titers shown by the PPR (Nigeria 75/1) vaccinated animals were 0 ±0.00, 10.4± 3.86, 11.2±4.13, 20±11.31 and 21.6±11.80 at zero, 7th,14th, 28th and 48th day post vaccination respectively. Result of present study demonstrated
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that the mean antibody titer values of animals vaccinated with Raksha PPR (Sungri 96) was significantly higher than animals vaccinated with PPR (Nigeria 75/1) at zero, 7th,14th, 28th and 48th day post vaccination respectively. The study also concluded that the mean antibody titer of animals receiving vaccination along with vitamin supplementation was significantly higher than animals receiving only vaccination. While performing the statistical analysis of data, it was revealed that the results were significant (p<0.05).
The present study summarized and concluded that the mean antibody titer values of Raksha PPR (Sungri 96) was significantly higher than PPR vaccine (Nigeria 75/1). As both India and Pakistan are two neighbouring countries, so PPR among them also falls in trans-boundary disease category. It signifies that both being part of Asia subcontinent and PPRV strain of lineage IV prevails in both regions. Keeping these factors under consideration proper vaccination strategy should be followed for the immunization of animals. In past, Nigeria 75/1 strain of PPRV vaccine had been used in Pakistan but the results were not reliable in terms of desired immune response and protection. Although titer was shown by this vaccine but protection is not reliable for proper health care of small ruminants. There was an immense need to come up with the authentic research on PPRV vaccine Raksha PPR (Sungri 96) in Pakistan which is already being used in India with desirable results.
The results of present research project were mostly similar with the findings of other scientists. The results of this study were analyzed through Independent t-test for independent samples.