Clinical and Comparative Efficacy of Antibiotic Therapy for the Management and Treatment of Secondary Bacterial Infection in Peste des Petits Ruminants in Goats and Sheep in Saudi Arabia

Background: Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) is a contagious viral disease that affects goats and sheep and cause significant economic losses. It is associated with secondary bacterial infections that further exacerbate the clinical impact of the disease. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the morbidity and mortality rates associated with PPR outbreaks and assess the effectiveness of four different antibiotic treatment protocols to manage the secondary bacterial infections in PPR-infected goats and sheep. Materials and Methods: The disease was confirmed through real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and clinical signs such as cough, fever, chills, shortness of breath, mucopurulent nasal and ocular discharge, and diarrhea. Positive animals of both species were divided into four equal groups (A, B, C, and D), with each group received a different antibiotic treatment protocol with identical supportive care for all groups: Treatment A: Oxytetracycline Treatment B: Tylosin + Gentamicin Treatment C: Tylosin + Gentamicin + Ceftriaxone Treatment D: Control group (no antibiotic treatment) Results: Goats exhibited a higher infection rate (73.24%) compared to sheep (47.26%). Among the treatment groups, Treatment C demonstrated the lowest overall mortality (9.94%) and the highest recovery rate (90.05%). In contrast, Treatment D (the control group) was the least effective with highest mortality rate (43.45%) and the lowest recovery rate (56.54%). Statistical analysis with Chi-square test revealed a highly significant difference in Treatment C (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Combination therapies, particularly Treatment C (Tylosin + Gentamicin + Ceftriaxone), were found to be the highly effective in the management of secondary bacterial infections in PPR disease.