Molecular Characterization of Lineage IV Peste des Petits Ruminants Viruses in Sudan Isolated from Outbreaks Between 2015 and 2018 Suggests the Existence of the North–East Africa Episystem
Abstract
Multiple outbreaks with high mortality rates and a pattern of disease occurrence similar to peste des petits ruminants (PPR) were observed in sheep and goats across many states of Sudan between 2015 and 2018. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate and identify the cause of these disease outbreaks. A total of 276 blood and lung tissue samples were collected from infected sheep (n = 223) and goats (n = 53). Sample analysis in an IC-ELISA revealed the presence of the PPRV antigen in 56.9% of sheep and 62.3% of goat samples. Twentyseven [sheep (18) and goats (9)] PPRV-positive samples from IC-ELISA were subsequently confirmed positive using the PPRV N-gene-based RT-PCR. Two PPR viruses were isolated from infected small ruminant lung tissues in Vero cells. The partial N-gene sequences for five PPRV strains originating from sheep and goats were determined. Phylogenetic tree grouped PPRV strains identified in this study in lineage IV in sub-lineage NEA (North-East Africa), with the highest sequence identity observed with strains circulating in North African countries. This study and earlier published phylogenetic analysis and patterns of animal movements suggest that the transboundary transmission of PPRV lineage IV strains between East and North African countries has been happening since 2008 and established a new North-East Africa episystem that needs to be disrupted for the successful global eradication of PPR.
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BibTeX
@article{asil2026molecular,
title = {{Molecular Characterization of Lineage IV Peste des Petits Ruminants Viruses in Sudan Isolated from Outbreaks Between 2015 and 2018 Suggests the Existence of the North–East Africa Episystem}},
author = {Rayan M. Asil and Arnaud Bataille and Martin Ludlow and Albert D M E Osterhaus and Abdelgadir Ballal and Salma O. Abdelgadir and Muzdalifa A Hassan and Yahia H. Ali and Saafass Alsarraj and Felix Njeumi and Satya Parida and Nussieba A Osman},
journal = {Viruses},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.3390/v18070765},
url = {https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05788358v1},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Molecular Characterization of Lineage IV Peste des Petits Ruminants Viruses in Sudan Isolated from Outbreaks Between 2015 and 2018 Suggests the Existence of the North–East Africa Episystem
AU - Rayan M. Asil
AU - Arnaud Bataille
AU - Martin Ludlow
AU - Albert D M E Osterhaus
AU - Abdelgadir Ballal
AU - Salma O. Abdelgadir
AU - Muzdalifa A Hassan
AU - Yahia H. Ali
AU - Saafass Alsarraj
AU - Felix Njeumi
AU - Satya Parida
AU - Nussieba A Osman
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/12
JO - Viruses
DO - 10.3390/v18070765
UR - https://hal.inrae.fr/hal-05788358v1
AB - Multiple outbreaks with high mortality rates and a pattern of disease occurrence similar to peste des petits ruminants (PPR) were observed in sheep and goats across many states of Sudan between 2015 and 2018. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate and identify the cause of these disease outbreaks. A total of 276 blood and lung tissue samples were collected from infected sheep (n = 223) and goats (n = 53). Sample analysis in an IC-ELISA revealed the presence of the PPRV antigen in 56.9% of sheep and 62.3% of goat samples. Twentyseven [sheep (18) and goats (9)] PPRV-positive samples from IC-ELISA were subsequently confirmed positive using the PPRV N-gene-based RT-PCR. Two PPR viruses were isolated from infected small ruminant lung tissues in Vero cells. The partial N-gene sequences for five PPRV strains originating from sheep and goats were determined. Phylogenetic tree grouped PPRV strains identified in this study in lineage IV in sub-lineage NEA (North-East Africa), with the highest sequence identity observed with strains circulating in North African countries. This study and earlier published phylogenetic analysis and patterns of animal movements suggest that the transboundary transmission of PPRV lineage IV strains between East and North African countries has been happening since 2008 and established a new North-East Africa episystem that needs to be disrupted for the successful global eradication of PPR.
SN - 1999-4915
ER -