Small ruminant morbillivirus (SRMV)

Small ruminant morbillivirus (SRMV), formerly known as Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV), is a highly contagious viral pathogen belonging to the genus Morbillivirus within the family Paramyxoviridae [1.1.1, 1.3.1]. It is the causative agent of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), a severe and often fatal disease primarily affecting sheep and goats, characterized by high fever, oculonasal discharge, necrotizing stomatitis, and pneumonia [1.2.1, 1.2.5]. The virus possesses a non-segmented, negative-sense RNA genome encoding six structural proteins (N, P, M, F, H, L) and two non-structural proteins (C, V) [1.5.4]. Viral entry into host cells is mediated by the binding of the hemagglutinin (H) protein to receptors such as Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule (SLAM/CD150) and Nectin-4 [1.2.1, 1.5.3]. Therapeutic strategies focus on vaccination using live-attenuated strains like Nigeria 75/1 and Sungri/96 to induce lifelong immunity, while antiviral research explores inhibitors of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, such as ribavirin [1.4.1, 1.5.3]. SRMV is a major target for global eradication efforts led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), aiming for elimination by 2030 [1.3.1, 1.4.2].

Other names

Peste des petits ruminants virusPPRVGoat plague virusOvine rinderpest virusMorbillivirus caprinaeKata virus

Inhibition of viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) by ribavirin; induction of protective neutralizing antibodies against viral glycoproteins (H and F) by live-attenuated vaccines.