INCIDENCE OF PESTE DES PETITS RUMINANTS HAEMAGGLUTININS IN FARM AND MARKET GOATS IN NSUKKA, ENUGU STATE, NIGERIA

摘要

Small ruminants, sheep and goats, are important sources of animal protein in the West African sub region. This is so because trypanosomosis, which makes raising of cattle in the region difficult, has less effect on small ruminants. Leather industriesalso benefit much from these ruminants. Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) has been described as the most destructive viral disease of sheep and goats in the humid West African sub-region. It was observed that PPR is a source of great economic loss to farmers and stock owners in Nigeria. In the period, 1978-1979, a total of 2,700 goats were affected in 191 outbreaks resulting in the death of 1115 animals in Oyo State, Nigeria. PPR affects the quality and quantity of goat milk.