scabby lesions on the lips and nostrils of affected goat |
ORF, PPR ( Paste Dit Petid Ruminantivin), KATA are all names to identify this highly contagious viral disease that causes painful scabby lesions on the lips and nostrils of affected sheep’s and goats during 9days incubation period. It is a significant welfare problem for both sheep and goats not just in Nigeria but worldwide and is regarded as being in the top 20 most important viral diseases affecting the rural poor in developing countries.ORF is a zoonotic infection (which can spread from animals to humans) so it also poses a significant health risk to humans who come in contact with infected animals.
PPR ( Paste Dit Petid Ruminantivin)
as its popularly known for mainly affecting younger animals in their first few
months of life and can retard their growth as severely affected lambs and kids
may not be able to feed for several days, becoming weakened and prone to other
diseases. Orf is therefore not only a welfare problem for the animals, but also
has severe economic effects that delays production and finishing for market.
An additional hazard is that the
disease is zoonotic (i.e. can be transmitted to humans) posing a substantial
occupational risk to farmers, shepherds, and vets.The scabs caused by the orf
virus in and around the mouth and lips of infected animals normally heal
without treatment in 4-6 weeks however the lesions can become extensive and
spread to other parts of the body and secondary bacterial infections are not
uncommon. If the affected animal is still suckling, there is also the danger of
transmission to the ewe’s udder, which in turn can lead to acute mastitis.
Food Farm News spoke with Prof. Lawal Saidu, the director Vet
Teaching Hospital Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, who explained that the viral
disease ORF – PPR ( PasteDitPetidRuminantivin)
is not a big problem to human as it has been in existence since the 70s
during the operation feed the nation, mainly found in the rural economy,
although several governments have realized the effect of this disease and has
taken several actions in making the vaccine against ORF available.
Although the vaccine against ORF is
useful in reducing the effects of the disease on farms which have a history of
ORF, they do not provide long lasting solid immunity to ORF and may contribute
to the environmental pool of infection. Thorough disinfection of farm buildings
is very important in the control of this disease as it is generally considered
that the year to year spread and persistence of ORF in sheep is based on
animals becoming infected with virus shed into the environment from previously
infected animals.
Prof. Lawal added that the constrain
is that the treatment cannot be done in isolation, but can only be done
regionally or nationally, otherwise no work done in term of vaccination can be
effective without giving consideration to its spread to other areas. The symptoms of ORF are very similar to
those of foot and mouth disease virus and blue tongue virus.
Mr. Bolaji Ibelade the Desk officer
Sheep and Goat Value Chain, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development added that the virus is devastating on goats, 9 days incubation
period, with symptom’s like acute neumonia, discharge from nose and mouth and
daharia. Its mortality rate is 100% in a farm depending on its location. Sheep
and Goats experience this during raining season or harmatan.
The Desk officer also noted that to
prevent (ORF,PPR & KATA) we have to start practicing bio-security, an off
scale method of disease prevention, a clean environment, animals should not be
exposed to stress, good housing, feeding and water should be made available to
animals. Livestock breeders should learn not to mix new animals with those
already on the farm, because most of the animals are trans-border, so they have
to be separated for 28days. He stressed that the new ones should be quarantined,
with PPR Vaccine yearly for animals, although the vaccine are not for PPR,
ORF,KATA cure, but a means of prevention for the animals.
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