Serological Survey of Antibodies Against PPR Virus in Camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran

Background: Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a disease with high morbidity and mortality in small ruminants. A clinical report of this disease in camels has been made in Iran; however, no accurate information is available about infection with this virus in the camel population of Iran.

Objectives: This study was designed and conducted to detect any trace of seroconversion in dromedary camels in Iran.

Methods: A total of 100 serum samples were collected from a slaughterhouse in Khorasan Razavi Province and analysed using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect antibodies against the PPR virus.

Results: The results of this study indicated that the frequency of PPR virus exposure in camels in Khorasan Razavi Province was 3% (3 positive cases out of 100 camels). All the positive cases were female.

Conclusion: The seroconversion without any history of clinical disease among these camels indicated their exposure to the PPR virus in this region and their resistance to clinical disease. The resistance and sensitivity to this disease in camels have yet not been fully determined and require further studies. However, stressful risk factors such as transportation may contribute to the occurrence of clinical forms of PPR in camels. The detection of antibodies against the PPR virus in camels in this study reveals the fact that camels may be considerable contributors to the epidemiology of PPR in Iran.