Genomic analysis of peste des petits ruminants virus in Europe: Common origin for emergence in Greece, Romania, and Bulgaria

Outbreaks of the highly pathogenic small ruminant disease peste des petits ruminants (PPR) were reported in Greece and Romania in July 2024, and central Bulgaria in November 2024. The origin and the link between these outbreaks are not clear. In this study, genome sequences of PPR virus were obtained from samples collected by veterinary authorities in the first farms notified as infected in the three European countries. Genomic analyses confirmed that the emergence of PPR across Europe has a common origin, pointing towards an introduction from Northern Africa, although additional sequencing from the virus currently circulating globally is needed to confirm this hypothesis. More sequencing from the different outbreaks in Europe could also help to resolve the pathway of PPR transmission between and within European countries. Multiple nucleotide and amino acid differences separate the genomes from Europe from other sequences, with potential impact on the functionality of viral proteins to be investigated.