Context

Since 2015, PPR has been targeted by WOAH and FAO for eradication by 2030. Diagnostic tools and conventional vaccines are currently available for control, then eradication. DIVA vaccines (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) are under development and aimed to be used in the last steps of eradication.  The use of fit-for-purpose, validated diagnostic methods and of high quality vaccines is key to successfully control and eradicate PPR.

For this reason, national and regional diagnostic laboratories in countries affected by, or under threat from, PPRV need to continuously update and maintain their capacity to detect the virus and to support vaccination and surveillance programmes.

The goal of the WOAH PPR Reference Laboratories Network is to build strong partnerships between reference laboratories and diagnostic laboratories throughout the world, including recognised experts from national reference laboratories and from laboratories in low- and middle-income countries in addition to the current three WOAH Reference Laboratories for PPR. The network of WOAH PPR Reference Laboratories, by improving surveillance and epidemiological studies, and making available accurate and timely data on disease prevalence, will support the FAO-WOAH PPR Global Control and Eradication Strategy in preventing, detecting and controlling the disease towards eradication.  

Objectives

The key objectives of the Network are:

- Ensuring the availability of high quality laboratory tests and their use, and maintaining a high quality performance by all laboratories.

- Providing scientific and technical expertise to organisations and countries on issues related to early preparedness and effective response.

- Maintaining reagents, reference material, sample and data collections (positive controls for diagnostic tests, field samples, virus strains, virus sequences) and promoting material sharing to  support validation of diagnostic methods and sequencing efforts.

- Promoting the adoption and production of high quality vaccines and the development and application of more efficient and  locally-adapted vaccination strategies.

Coordination

The secretariat of the WOAH PPR Network will be under the responsibility of a rotating management of each PPR Reference Laboratory for a period of three years, to foster responsibility for each laboratory and activities in the different regions. Its role includes the organization of periodical meetings (at least one on-line workshop should be held each year) and the general coordination of network.

The goal is also to connect PPR experts with the PPR Lab Network. It is envisaged to set up an expert-lab meeting as a side-event of the Peste des Petits Ruminants Global Research and Expertise Network (PPR–GREN), which already brings together PPR experts, representatives from FAO and WOAH Reference Laboratories, research institutes, and National Veterinary Research Institutes in countries affected by PPR.

Areas of activities and outcomes

Details on the activities and expected outcomes of the network are described here:

PPR WOAH lab network-objectives and activities.pdf (application/pdf | 2023-07-13 | 449.37 Ko)