Assessment of Peste Des Petits Ruminants Antibodies in Vaccinated Yankasa Pregnant Ewes from Nigeria and the Duration of Maternal Immunity in Their Lambs

Abstract

examined using Competitive ELISA (c-ELISA) for the presence of specific PPR-N antibodies. Results: The analysed result showed that there was significant difference ( P < 0.05) in the mean PPRV-N specific antibody c-ELISA values (0-13) before vaccination and the percentage competition protective values (> 50%). However, no significant difference ( p > 0.05) post-vaccination in both pregnant and non-pregnant ewes was observed throughout the period of the study with mean PPRV-N specific c-ELISA antibodies of 72-86 and 52-86, respectively. The mean PPRV-N specific antibodies values were maintained within the protective value (> 50 %). The result of this study also showed that there was significant difference ( P < 0.05) with mean PPRV-N specific c-ELISA antibodies (17.3-29.4; 87.5%) of lambs born to vaccinated pregnant Yankassa ewes from 8 weeks. Conclusion: This study showed that vaccination does not affect pregnancy with Nigeria 75/1 strain of PPR vaccine in ewes as there was no record of abortion. There was a rapid PPR maternal antibody decay in lambs from the 8th week of age as it was observed that at age 10 weeks, only 37.5 % of the lambs had protective titre. It is therefore recommended that lambs can be vaccinated at 9 th week to avoid the window of susceptibility to PPR virus infection.