Armenia is at high risk of peste des petits ruminants
YEREVAN, December 26. /ARKA/. The Food Safety Inspectorate has designated Armenia as a high-risk zone for the spread of peste des petits ruminants (sheep and goat plague), adding that, along with the epizootic conditions in the region, this has led to the implementation of the "Peste des Petits Ruminants Serological Survey Program" over the next three years.
Starting in December 2025, the Food Safety Inspectorate, in collaboration with the NGO "Agricultural Services Center," will begin collecting blood samples from small ruminants in communities participating in this initiative.
Laboratory test results from these blood samples will be regularly submitted to the World Organization for Animal Health with the goal of achieving recognition of the Republic of Armenia as a peste des petits ruminants (PPR)-free country.
Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a viral disease that can occur in acute or subacute forms and is characterized by high fever, ulcerative lesions of the nasal and oral mucosa, hemorrhagic inflammation of the intestines and lymphatic system, bloody diarrhea, corneal inflammation, and pneumonia.
This disease was first identified as rinderpest in Africa in 1940. However, due to the immunobiological properties of the pathogen, it was officially designated as peste des petits ruminants in 1980 at an international scientific conference in Nigeria.
The plague pathogen is inactivated within 5-10 minutes at a temperature of 60°C.
At a low temperature of -20°C, the virus can survive for 4-7 months. At temperatures between 25 and 30°C, the pathogen can remain viable in an animal carcass for 20-30 hours. The virus can survive in manure for up to 30 hours and in pastures for up to 36 hours. In the meat of infected or sick animals, the virus can remain viable for up to 28 days.
Clinical symptoms of the disease include loss of appetite, fever up to 41–42.5°C, laryngopharyngitis, purulent and bloody diarrhea, asphyxiation, and acute pneumonia. It is important to note that this disease does not pose a threat to human health.
Economic losses caused by this disease include animal mortality (50–100%), reduced milk production, and weight and hair loss.-0-
