Department of Pharmacy Clinical and Comparative Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Department of Bimolecular and Bio Lab Sciences, School of Biosecurity, Biotechnology and Laboratory Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
BMC Vet Res. 2023 Oct 28;19(1):224. doi: 10.1186/s12917-023-03788-w.
Sheep and goat pox (SGP) caused by sheep poxvirus (SPV) and goat poxvirus (GPV) respectively; are transboundary and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)-notifiable viral diseases. There is barely any coherent information about the distribution and prevalence of SGP for Uganda. We therefore conducted this study to describe the temporal and spatial distribution of SGP suspected outbreaks in Uganda for the period 2011-2020 as well as serologically confirm presence of SGP antibodies in suspected SGP outbreaks reported in 2021-2022.
Thirty-seven [37] SGP outbreaks were reported across the country during the study period. North-eastern region [that comprises of Karamoja region] had the highest number of outbreaks [n = 17, 45%]; followed by Central [n = 9, 2.4%], Northern [n = 8, 2.2%] and Western region [n = 3, 0.08%]. Reports from district veterinary personnel indicate that the prevalence of; and mortality rate and case fatality rate associated with SGP were 0.06%, 0.02% and 32% respectively. There was a steady increase in the number of reported SGP outbreaks [x̄ = 4] over the study period. Seropositivity of SGPV antibodies in outbreak sheep and goats that were investigated during the study period [2021-2022] was [n = 41, 27%, 95 CI;] CONCLUSION: Our analyses of SGPV passive and active reports indicate that SGP is present in Uganda with a decade long average of four outbreaks per annum. During this period, about a third of all SGPV-clinically infected animals died. SPG is therefore a major constraint to small ruminant health and productivity in Uganda. Introduction of animals from infected herds and breach in farm biosecurity were the most important predictors of SGP outbreaks. In addition to the already existing SGP commercial vaccines, small ruminant screening for SGPV before introducing them to naïve herds and ensuring on farm biosecurity should be part of the SGP control tool pack for Ugandan small ruminant farmers.
绵羊痘（SGP）和山羊痘（GP）分别由绵羊痘病毒（SPV）和山羊痘病毒（GPV）引起；这是两种具有传染性的、世界动物卫生组织（WOAH）需要通报的病毒性疾病。关于乌干达的绵羊痘的分布和流行情况，几乎没有任何连贯的信息。因此，我们进行了这项研究，以描述 2011-2020 年期间乌干达疑似绵羊痘爆发的时间和空间分布，以及对 2021-2022 年报告的疑似绵羊痘爆发进行血清学确认是否存在绵羊痘病毒抗体。
在研究期间，该国报告了 37 起绵羊痘爆发。东北部地区（包括卡拉莫贾地区）爆发的数量最多[17 起，占 45%]；其次是中部[9 起，占 2.4%]、北部[8 起，占 2.2%]和西部[3 起，占 0.08%]。来自地区兽医人员的报告表明，绵羊痘的流行率、死亡率和病死率分别为 0.06%、0.02%和 32%。在研究期间（2021-2022 年），报告的绵羊痘爆发数量呈稳步上升趋势[平均值为 4 起]。对调查期间爆发的绵羊和山羊进行的绵羊痘病毒抗体血清学检测呈阳性[41 起，占 27%，95%置信区间]。
我们对绵羊痘病毒被动和主动报告的分析表明，乌干达存在绵羊痘，平均每年有 4 起爆发。在此期间，约三分之一的所有绵羊痘病毒临床感染动物死亡。因此，绵羊痘是乌干达小反刍动物健康和生产力的主要制约因素。从感染畜群引进动物和农场生物安全漏洞是绵羊痘爆发的最重要预测因素。除了现有的绵羊痘商业疫苗外，在将小反刍动物引入无疫区之前对其进行绵羊痘病毒筛查，并确保农场生物安全，这应成为乌干达小反刍动物农民绵羊痘控制工具包的一部分。
