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Incidence of bluetongue virus precipitating antibodies in sera of some domestic animals in the Sudan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

M. Eisa
Affiliation:
Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine Project, P.O. Box 293, Khartoum
A. E. Karrar
Affiliation:
Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine Project, P.O. Box 293, Khartoum
A. H. Abd Elrahim
Affiliation:
Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine Project, P.O. Box 293, Khartoum
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To determine the presence and prevalence of bluetongue (BT) infection in a variety of domestic animal species in different geographical regions of the Sudan, a serological study using the agar gel precipitation technique was initiated. A total of 2142 serum samples were examined. Of the numbers tested approximately 28% of sheep, 11.2% of goats, 8% of cattle and 4.9% of camels were positive for group-specific antibodies to BT virus antigen, indicating previous exposure to BT infection. None of the samples tested from horses or donkeys were positive. The findings suggest that the disease is widely distributed in most parts of the Sudan where possible insect vectors prevail and may be endemic in sheep in Juba District, Equatoria Province, Southern Region. Goats appeared to have some degree of resistance to infection compared with sheep, and there seemed to be no significant differences in positive rates between farm and free-range cattle.

It is concluded that BT infection may cause clinical disease in sheep, while it is probably subclinical or inapparent in goats, cattle and camels of the Sudan.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

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