Pathogen Safety Data Sheet - Peste des petits ruminants

SECTION I: DISEASE / INFECTIOUS AGENT

SYNONYM / CROSS REFERENCE: Pseudorinderpest of small ruminants, pest of small ruminants, goat plague, Kata, stomatitis-pneumoenteritis syndrome, contagious pustular stomatitis, pneumoenteritis complex ⁽¹⁾

ETIOLOGY / TAXONOMY Virus
Family: Paramyxoviridae
Genus: Morbillivirus
Species: Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV)

ORGANISM CHARACTERISTICS:

• Lipid containing envelope. Large size: 60-300 nm in diameter, 1000-10000 nm long ⁽²⁾
• Distinct virus, clinically and antigenically closely related to rinderpest virus
• Only one serotype - no known variants described

SURVEILLANCE :

Peste des petits ruminants is a reportable disease in Canada. Animal owners, veterinarians and laboratories are required to immediately report the presence of an animal that is infected or suspected of being infected to a CFIA district veterinarian. Control or eradication measures will be applied immediately (http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/H-3.3/fulltoc.html.)

DISTRIBUTION :

• The status of Peste des petits ruminants in Canada is non-indigenous.
• West and Central Africa, the Middle East, Arabian peninsula, India.

SECTION II: ANIMAL HEALTH HAZARD AND EPIDEMIOLOGY

CLINICAL DISEASE / PATHOGENESIS:

1. Clinical signs: Acute form - sudden increase in body temperature. Affected animals appear ill and restless and have a dull coat, dry muzzle, congested mucous membranes and poor appetite. Initially nasal discharge is serous becoming mucopurulent later. Small areas of necrosis may be seen on mucous membrane on the floor of the nasal cavity. Conjunctiva are frequently congested with matting of eyelids sometimes occurring. Necrotic stomatitis affects the lower lip and gum and later may involve the dental pad, palate, cheeks and tongue. Bronchiopneumonia may develop. Diarrhea may be profuse and is accompanied by dehydration and emaciation; hypothermia and death follow after 5 to 10 days. ⁽¹⁾
   Chronic form - varies with local breed susceptibility, with a 10-15 day period for development of clinical signs and pneumopathy is a common finding. ⁽³⁾
2. Infectious dose: Not known
3. Incubation period: 3 to 10 days ⁽³⁾
4. Morbidity rate is 90% in a susceptible population
5. Mortality rate is 50 - 80% in a susceptible population

SOURCE / MODE OF TRANSMISSION / COMMUNICABILITY:

• Sources: Tears, nasal discharge, coughed secretions, and all secretions and excretions of incubating and sick animals. ⁽³⁾
• Mode of transmission: Direct contact between animals, mostly through short range aerosols from sneezing or coughing; virus enters via respiratory tract. ⁽⁴⁾
• No carrier state found in recovered animals.
• Seasonal variations: more frequent outbreaks during the rainy season or the dry cold season. ⁽³⁾

VECTORS: none

HOST RANGE:

• Sheep and especially goats, with marked breed susceptibility. The Gazellinae, Caprinae and Hippotraginae are susceptible, as are camels.⁽⁵⁾ White-tailed deer, cattle and pigs are susceptible to infection but do not exhibit clinical signs and are unable to transmit the disease.

ZOONOTIC POTENTIAL:

• Peste des petits ruminants cannot be transmitted to humans..

RESERVOIR:

• Sheep and goats

Section III: DIAGNOSIS

NECROPSY / HISTOPATHOLOGY FINDINGS:

• Emaciation, conjunctivitis and stomatitis are seen, necrotic lesions are seen inside lower lip and on the adjacent gum, the cheeks and ventral surface of the tongue. Lesions may extend to the hard palate and pharynx. The erosions are shallow, with a red, raw base and later become pinkish white.⁽¹⁾
• Abomasum often has regularly outlined erosions , often oozing blood.⁽⁶⁾
• Small intestine lesions are generally moderate. Peyer's patches are the site of extensive necrosis, which may result in severe ulceration. Large intestine may show congestion around ileocecal valve, at the ceco-colic junction, and in the rectum.⁽⁶⁾
• Small erosions and petechiae may be visible on nasal mucosa, turbinates, larynx and trachea. Bronchopneumonia may be present.^{(1, 6)}
• The spleen may be slightly enlarged and congested. Most lymph nodes throughout the body are enlarged, congested and edematous.⁽⁶⁾

SAMPLE SUBMISSION:

• Whole blood in EDTA anticoagulant or heparin - 10 ml from acutely affected animals
• Clotted blood
• Serum
• Swabs of oral cavity, serous nasal and lachrymal discharges - swabs from upper and lower eyelids
• Fixed and fresh tissues (especially mesenteric and bronchial lymph nodes, spleen, lung, tonsil, kidney, brain, and sections of ileum and large intestine). ⁽⁶⁾

All samples should be transported at 4°C on wet ice or ice packs.

For more information regarding the type of samples necessary for BSE diagnosis, please contact the National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease:

LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS:
Identification of the agent:
Antigen detection: ⁽³⁾

• Agar gel immunodiffusion
• Counter immunoelecrophoresis
• Indirect fluorescent antibody test
• Immunohistopathology

Virus isolation and identification: ⁽³⁾

• In primary lamb kidney cells or VERO cell line
• Virus neutralization
• Electron microscopy

Virus RNA detection: ⁽³⁾

• PPR-specific cDNA probes
• Amplification of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

Serological tests: ⁽³⁾

• Virus neutralization
• Competitive ELISA
• Counter immunoelectrophoresis
• Agar gel immunodiffusion
• Immunodiffusion inhibition test

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: No specific treatment. Antibiotics to prevent secondary pulmonary infections. Rinderpest vaccine protects goats from PPRV for up to 12 months.

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS: The following diseases may show clinical similarity to Peste des petits ruminants:⁽⁶⁾

• Rinderpest
• Pasteurellosis
• Contagious caprine pleuropneumonia
• Bluetongue
• Heartwater
• Contagious ecthyma
• Foot-and-mouth disease
• Nairobi sheep disease
• Coccidiosis
• Plant or mineral poisoning
• Sheep and goat pox
• Salmonellosis
• Arsenic poisoning

SECTION IV: DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURES

Select a registered disinfectant with a drug identification number (DIN). Use according to label directions for concentration and contact time. Consider organic load and temperature. It is recommended that laboratories evaluate the effectiveness of the disinfectant using a validated method (eg. Quantitative Carrier Test). See table 1 to help select a registered disinfectant for use against Peste des petits ruminants.

TABLE 1: Active ingredients considered to be effective against Peste des petits ruminants.

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION:

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE OF HOST:

• Virus is rapidly inactivated by UV light and dessication after 4 days.
• Virus circulates in blood 1-2 days prior to clinical signs onset
• Low survivability in environment
• Airborne spread limited to a few hundred metres under low or high humidity conditions
• Low persistence in meat products
• No vector transmission ⁽⁴⁾
• Virus remains in all secretions and excretions for about 10 days after onset of fever.⁽⁴⁾

SECTION V: LABORATORY HAZARDS FOR HUMANS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: None

BIOSAFETY PRECAUTIONS: None

SECTION VI : PHYSICAL AND OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS:

All physical containment and operational practices for containment level 3, as per the Containment Standards for Veterinary Facilities must be met. The Standards can be accessed at : http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/sci/lab/convet/convete.shtml

Personal Protective Equipment
Laboratory:

• Dedicated laboratory clothing (e.g. scrubs and headwear) and dedicated laboratory footwear.
• Secondary layer of protective clothing (e.g. solid-front gowns with tight-fitting wrists, 2 pairs of gloves) should be worn over laboratory clothing when directly handling infectious materials.
• A shower is required on exit.

Post Mortem:

• Dedicated laboratory clothing (e.g. scrubs and headwear) and laboratory dedicated footwear.
• Secondary layer of protective clothing (e.g. solid-front gowns with tight-fitting wrists, 2 pairs of gloves) should be worn over laboratory clothing when directly handling infectious materials.
• Cut resistant gloves, steel toed/steel shanked rubber boots.
• A shower is required on exit.

HANDLING INFORMATION

Spills in laboratory:
Spill protocol must be in place and include the following scenarios:

• spills inside the Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC)
• spills outside the BSC
• spills while performing aerosol generating procedures
• also consider entry and exit procedure modifications if necessary, appropriate PPE, disinfection of spill and surroundings including contact time, flow (pattern) of the clean up and disposal of contaminated materials.

Refer to Table 1 for disinfectant selection.

STORAGE: All cultures and infected material should be stored in leakproof, sealed containers that are accurately labeled and clearly identified as a biohazard risk. The access to infectious material should be controlled at all times. Records must be kept to describe the use, inventory and disposal of infectious material.

DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all infectious material prior to disposal. Use steam sterilization, incineration or chemical disinfection.

REFERENCES:

1. Merck Veterinary Manual, Peste des petits ruminants sheet: http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/55700.htm&word=peste%2cdes%2cpetits
2. Virus database online : http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/VIRUSES/VIAL/31604/31604.html
3. OIE website: www.oie.int/eng/maladies/fiches/A_A050.HTM
4. Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan. Operational Procedures Manual: Decontamination, online at: http://www.animalhealthaustralia.com.au/aahc/index.cfm?E9711767-B85D-D391-45FC-CDBC07BD1CD4
5. Infectious Diseases of Livestock, Edited by J. Coetzer and R. Tustin. Oxford University Press, 2004.
6. Foreign Animal Diseases - The Gray Book, Peste des petits ruminants, http://www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/gray_book02/fad/pdp.php

LAST UPDATED (DATE): August 10, 2005

PREPARED BY: The Biohazard Containment and Safety Unit, CFIA

Disclaimer: Although the information and recommendations in this Pathogen Safety Data Sheet are compiled from reliable sources, there is no guarantee, warranty or any assurance that the information and recommendations are correct, accurate, sufficient, reliable or current and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency shall not be responsible for any loss or damage resulting from or in connection with the use of or reliance upon the information and recommendations.

The user assumes all risks and responsibility for and shall be liable for the use of and any reliance on the information and recommendations and the results thereof and any loss or damage resulting therefrom.

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