Ali Jafari-Gh - College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran
Nima Eila - Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources , Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch, Iran
Jafar Yadi - Faculty of Veterinary Science, Islamic Azad University, Saveh branch, Iran
Richard A.Laven - Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
Zeinab Hatami - Young Researchers and Elites Club, Karaj branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
Pegah Soleimani - Animal Science Association, Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Karaj branch, Iran

Viral diseases impose huge economic burden on livestock industry. In the current study,current knowledge of small ruminant farmers about viral diseases was assessed. In thisstudy, a pre-designed questionnaire was used to gather data from one-hundred and twofarmers during face-to-face interviews. Knowledge of farmers about four common viraldiseases of the region was assessed by open-ended questions. A protocol was designed toscore the knowledge of participants from zero to ten. Data were entered in MicrosoftExcel and analyzed by SPSS software. Results show that farmers have rudimentaryknowledge about viral diseases of sheep and goat. Participants had very limited andlimited knowledge about PPR, agalactia, and sheep and goat pox, whereas the majoritywere familiar with FMD. Authors believe that systematic extension programs need to beheld in the region to enhance the knowledge of farmers about viral diseases and preventdisease outbreaks.

small ruminants, PPR, agalactia, sheep and goat pox, FMD