Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a widely spread
viral disease with limited sporadic outbreaks particularly among small ruminants. The diagnosis depends on the detection of
antibodies by commercially available expensive
reagents. The aim of this work was to prepare and evaluate
antigen from an attenuated local PPR virus in Egypt. The virus was propagated in Vero cells, subjected to 3 cycles freeze/thaw, concentrated by dialysis and sonicated for 60 seconds at 3.5 power. The
antigen was tested for
sterility by re-passage several dilutions in Vero cells, and culture for aerobic/anaerobic bacteria, mycoplasma and fungi using selective media. The efficiency of the
antigen was evaluated against reference
antigen for reactivity using ELISA and
agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) tests. The prepared
antigen proved to be completely inactivated, not contaminated and efficient for the detection of
antibodies to PPR by both ELISA and AGID tests. In conclusion, the prepared
antigen is reliable for serodiagnosis of PPR and can replace the expensive commercial antigenss. Local large scale production of this
antigen will facilitate surveillance of the disease in Egypt.