Introduction
Morbillivirus of Family paramyxoviradae produce an important contagious disease in sheep and goat called Peste des petits ruminant (PPR) known as “Small ruminant plague” (Zahur et al., 2011; Mahajan et al., 2012). There is very close relationship between PPR virus and Rinderpest virus (Abubakar et al., 2008; Rajak et al., 2005). It results in production losses, abortion in pregnant animals and even death of the animals.

Signs of the disease includes rise in temperature, diarrhea (Figure 1), ocular and muco-purulent nasal discharge (Figure 2~3), lesions on the gums from which blood is oozing out (Figure 4), pneumonia and coughing and if remain untreated then cause the death of the animal (Mahajan et al., 2012). Lymphopenia is seen in case of PPR virus infection (Rajak et al., 2005). Excluding clinical signs, history and Complete blood count the PPR can also be diagnosed by using Heamagglutination test (HA), Compliment fixation test (CFT), Immuno-electro-osmo-precipitation test and Enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) (Ezeibe et al., 2004).There is no specific treatment and control is possible only with vaccination.

Figure 1 Watery diarrhea

Figure 2 Ocular discharge

Figure 3 Muco-purulent nasal discharge

Figure 4 Lesions on the gums from which blood is oozing out

One report in Maharashtra, India, shows the losses of Rs. 945millions in goats and Rs. 918 millions in sheep annually. Because of its trans-boundary nature it is economically very significant disease can greatly affect the import and export. Disease is 16.9% prevalent in Punjab province, Pakistan as reported by Durrani et al (2010). The risk of PPR is 62.5 % in domestic small ruminants around the globe (Zahur et al., 2011).

The disease is economically very important for developing countries like Pakistan. So should be control all over Pakistan by starting free vaccination programs in every part of country and by awareness of farmers about the bad impact of the disease on production and economy. 

Case Description
Approximately 2 year old buck of discrete breed weight about 27 kg visited the outdoor clinic at CMS. The main presenting complaint of animal was that the animal was suffering from diarrhea (Figure 1) and anorexia from last 4 days. Ocular and nasal discharge could be seen as in Figure 2 and Figure 3 respectively. Vaccination history against any disease was not found but deworming was done with Oxfendazole about 20 days before.

Clinical examination of the animal showed very high fever 104.4*F, Respiration rate about 38/min, pulse rate was 112/min and CRT was more than 3 means animals was dehydrated. Lesions from which blood was oozing out could be seen on the gums (Figure 4). Nasal discharge was muco-purulent in nature. Lymph nodes were also palpable. Because of diarrhea the hind quarter was soiled with feces. Feces were check for parasitic ova but result was negative. Complete blood count (CBC) revealed lymphopenia (Table 1) as an indicator of PPR virus infection (Rajak et al., 2005). On the basis of history, clinical signs and complete blood count (CBC) the disease was diagnosed as PPR.

Table 1 Complete blood count (CBC) of buck

 
Symptomatic and supportive treatment was done because there is no specific treatment (http://osp.mans.edu.eg/elsawalhy/Inf-Dis/PPR.htm). Animal was infused with ringer lactate @ 20 mL/kg b.w, Metronidazole @ 10mg/kg b.w, Amoxicillin @ 3mg/kg b.w to check the dehydration and diarrhea and secondary infection respectively for 7 days. As take home medicine Somogel (Lignocaine INN 0.6%) was recommended 3 times a day for its soothing affect and advice the owner to offer feed to animal just after applying this gel. Oral rehydration solution (ORS) and a multivitamin powder (Bendoz powder) were also recommended for 15 days to rehydrate the animal and to maintain the body condition so that animal could recover as early as possible. Treatment was given for 7 days and animal recovered from the disease in next 10 days.

Discussion
PPR is a World animal health organization (OIE) listed disease of sheep and goat caused by morbillivirus, 1st identified in Pakistan in 1991 and endemic in Central Asia, Pakistan, India, Iran, Iraq and in different parts of Africa. In recent years this disease known to cause big economic losses (Zahur et al., 2011; Abubakar et al., 2008).

Close contact is the way of transmission of this virus. The virus come out in every secretion and excretion of infected animal and infects the healthy animals near to it (Abubakar et al., 2008). Transfer of sheep and goats from one place to another and PPR outbreaks are linked closely. Disease stays for 15 days and mostly animal dies in 10~12 days. Morbidity in this disease is 90% and mortality is 50%~80 % but mortality may be reach up to 100% (Zahur et al., 2011; Mahajan et al., 2012).

On clinical examination the animal was found to have high rise in body temperature, diarrhea (Figure 1), ocular discharge (Figure 2) , nasal discharge which was muco-purulent (Figure 3), lesion on gums in oral cavity (Figure 4) and dyspnea as seen by the Mahajan in 2012. In complete blood count (CBC) Lymphopenia is seen. Lymphopenia is seen in case of PPR virus infection which is known to cause immune-suppression and show strong affinity towards the lymphoid tissue and epithelial cell (Rajak et al., 2005).

On clinical basis we can we can diagnose the disease as PPR but for further confirmation we can also go for some other tests like ELISA, CFT and HA etc. For diagnosis of viral disease ELISA and CFT are difficult to perform and somewhat expensive. Instead of these a less expensive test is done known as Heamagglutination test (HA). The best thing about HA is that it is effective and easy to perform to diagnose viral diseases in developing countries like Pakistan (Ezeibe et al., 2004). After confirming the disease we treated the disease symptomatically because still there is no specific treatment available for this disease.

As disease is endemic, so the effective vaccination is the best way to control this disease rapidly. For this purpose a Vero cell-based homologous live attenuated vaccine is developed in India found to be effective and safe in non-pregnant as well as pregnant animals (Saravanan et al., 2008). Only effective vaccination programs can prevent us from huge economic losses from this disease.

Acknowledgement
This case report is especially dedicated to Dr. Asad Manzoor (Lecturer at Department of clinic medicine and surgery, University of agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan) and Dr. Mumtaz A khan (Professor at Department of clinic medicine and surgery, University of agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan) for their inspiration, advice, support and everything they provide me to complete this report.

References
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