Volume 15, Issue 2: 2025 - Article 197

Abstract
Global food security faces multi-faceted challenges posed by poverty, economic mismanagement, flawed production systems and emerging infectious diseases amongst others. Livestock production in Nigeria plays a vital role in meeting food (protein) demands, socioeconomic and ecological balance, and relies significantly on the small ruminant component (sheep and goats), which accounts for around 28% of Nigeria's total livestock population. The livestock sector constantly grapples with endemic diseases that lead to significant losses for farmers, stakeholders and the community. Among these diseases is Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), which is endemic in Nigeria and is associated with very high mortality. A regular update on the status of PPR in Nigeria is essential to identify vulnerabilities and devise effective preventive and control measures. The present review provides insights into PPR's epidemiology, diagnosis and economic impacts in Nigeria, as well as the benefits of timely detection of the disease.

Keywords: Peste des Petits Ruminants; Goats and Sheep; Review; Epidemiology and Diagnosis; Economic impact; Timely/Early detection.

How to cite this article:
Otuh PI, Ikpegbu E, Ibe CS, Okorie-Kanu C, Ani VN, Nlebedum U, Uwalaka CE and Agbakwuru IO (2025). A review of the epidemiology, diagnosis and economic impacts of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in Nigeria, and the case for early detection. Journal of Veterinary and Applied Sciences, 15(2): 1126 – 1141.

*Correspondence: E-mail:  otuhpi@dufuh.edu.ng      Phone: +2348037509237

A review of the epidemiology, diagnosis and economic impacts of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in Nigeria, and the case for early detection
Patricia I. Otuh ^{1, 6, 7 *}, Ekele Ikpegbu ², Chikera S. Ibe ², Christian Okorie-Kanu ³, Victoria N. Ani ⁴, Uchenna Nlebedum ², Chibuike E. Uwalaka ⁵, Isaiah O. Agbakwuru <sup>2

1</sup> Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria.
² Department of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria.
³ Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria.
⁴ Department of Theriogenology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria.
⁵ Department of Veterinary Parasitology College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria.
⁶ Department of Public Health, David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences Uburu, Nigeria.
⁷ Institute of Infectious Diseases, Biosafety and Biosecurity Research, David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, Nigeria.

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