PPR serosurvillance and risk factors associated with sheep and goat populations in Giza governorate in Egypt

Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) remains a major threat to small ruminants health and productivity in Egypt. A cross-sectional serological survey was conducted in Giza Governorate from May 2014 to July 2015 to estimate PPR prevalence and assess associated risk factors. A total of 316 randomly selected animals (200 sheep, 116 goats) were sampled and tested using virus neutralization test (VNT) and competitive ELISA (c-ELISA). The overall seroprevalence was 67.4% (95% CI: 62.2–69.9) by VNT and 65.3% (95% CI: 62.6–68.0) by c-ELISA. Prevalence was higher in sheep than goats, though differences were not statistically significant. Risk factor analysis, based on structured questionnaires, was performed using Chi-square tests followed by multivariate logistic regression. Two factors were significantly associated with seropositivity: regular introduction of new animals without quarantine (p = 0.041) and animal migration (p = 0.004). These findings indicate high PPR exposure in small ruminant populations in Giza, likely due to ongoing or past circulation of the virus. Strengthened biosecurity measures, including a minimum two-week quarantine for newly introduced animals, are recommended to reduce transmission risk.