Detection and Phylogenetic Study of Peste des Petits Ruminants in Iran, 2019: Updated Data.

Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is caused by a morbillivirus from the Paramyxoviridae family and the infected animals, especially goats, that show clinical signs of necrotic stomatitis, enteritis, and pneumonia. The PPR virus has four lineages closely related to the geographical regions. Sufficient awareness of the lineage of the virus helps monitor the disease in different regions of a country. Phylogenetic studies have led to implementing strategies against new lineages that may enter a given country from the neighboring countries. The present research aimed to study the PPR virus (PPRV) detected phylogenetically by PCR in a small ruminant flock with PPR clinical signs. The goats in a flock in Alborz province showed clinical signs of PPR, and 10% died. Oral swabs and blood samples were taken from two affected goat flocks. The RT-PCR was conducted to detect PPRV RNA, and the sequence of the obtained RNA was analyzed phylogenetically. Moreover, all the samples were positive for the presence of PPRV and belonged to lineage IV. The isolates had high homology with each other and with the isolates from different countries. To inhibit the entrance of new isolates to Iran and reduce the incidence of outbreaks in Iran, it is essential to control the animals’ movement across the borders and increase the vaccination coverage throughout the country. To eradicate PPR, an extensive vaccination program should cover small ruminant populations throughout the country.

A preliminary study on normal electrocardiographic parameters of ostriches (Struthio camelus).

Electrocardiograms were taken from 100 normal healthy male and female ostriches which were 1 to 15 months old using a base apex lead. The heart rate of those less than 3 months old ranged from 107 to 250 beats per minute with a mean of 171.47 +/- 9.03 and that of ostriches of more than 3 months old ranged from 43 to 167 with a mean of 90.52 +/- 2.64 beats/minute. The P-waves were positive in all cases except in 1 ostrich which it was isoelectric. The ORS complexes were mainly negative and either monophasic (QS) or biphasic (rS or RS). The T-wave showed more variation than other waves. The durations of P P-R, QRS, Q-T and T-waves of chicks and of those more than 3 months of age (4-15-month-old) were 0.04 +/- 0.00, 0.06 +/- 0.00; 0.14 +/- 0.04, 0.16 +/- 0.00; 0.04 +/- 0.00, 0.06 +/- 0.00; 0.18 +/- 0.00, 0.27 +/- 0.00 and 0.06 +/- 0.00, 0.09 +/- 0.01 s, respectively, and amplitudes of the main direction of P-, QRS and T- waves of 2 groups were 0.29 +/- 0.02, 0.26 +/- 0.01; 1.87 +/- 0.17, 2.21 +/- 0.08; and 0.34 +/- 0.06, 0.37 +/- 0.02 mV, respectively. Ten cases showed cardiac dysrhythmias of which 9 showed sinus arrhythmia and 1 showed premature atrial contractions (PAC). This study showed that the base apex lead can be a suitable monitoring lead for electrocardiographic examination of ostriches.