Zahra Bamouh, Fatima-Zohra Fakri, Soufiane Elmejdoub, Amal Elarkam, Lamya Rafi, Khalid Omari Tadlaoui, Douglas M Watts*, Mehdi Elharrak
Small Ruminant Morbillivirus (SRMV) or Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is caused by Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus (PPRV) of the Paramyxoviridae family. As one of the most contagious transboundary disease that affects sheep, goats and wild ruminants, the disease has a devastating impact on the livelihood of small farmers in enzootic countries. Efforts to control and prevent Peste des Petits Ruminants based on inactivated vaccines have rarely been investigated. In this study, we developed an inactivated oily adjuvanted vaccine, using a virulent field isolate, and evaluated the safety and efficacy in goats and sheep by challenge of goats and serological monitoring of the antibody response in sheep during 2 years. The vaccine was completely safe and induced a significant neutralizing antibody response starting on day 7 post vaccination, and reached 100% seroconversion at day 14 with a marked booster effect. The immunological response lasted for at least 12 months in sheep while goats showed full protection against challenge. The inactivated vaccine may represent a valuable tool for the prevention of PPR that avoids the safety and thermos-sensitivity associated with live vaccines.