Detection of Foot-and- Mouth Disease Sub-clinical infection in sheep imported from free zones of Georgia during Hajj season 2009 in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

S Ali,Mhaiblowi Mhaiblowi,S Sharawi,M Yousef

doi:10.5455/vetworld.2011.399-403

Abstract

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) sub-clinically infected animals, are always a threat to susceptible herds. During Hajj season 2009 (1431 Hijri) the kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) imported about 204,583 sheep from FMD free areas from Republic of Georgia through Jeddah Islamic seaport. The animals were clinically free from FMD and authorized as not been previously vaccinated. However, but during the routine laboratory examination of serum samples using FMD-3ABC ELISA some sheep consignments exhibited positivness for FMD anti-bodies. The liquid phase blocking ELISA (LPBE) was performed as a confirmatory test which revealed antibodies against FMD serotype O, the suggesting that animals may be susceptible to FMD infection from any endemic countries passed through during overseas transportation. This study will contribute towards the development of an appropriate strategy for FMD control, including the choice of countries of the animal importation, as well as assist to improve our understanding of the epidemiology of FMD.

Highlights

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a member of the Picornaviridae family belongs to the genus Aphthovirus that causes a highly contagious vesicular disease of cattle and other cloven- hoofed animals (Bachrach, 1968 and Pereira, 1981)
The liquid phase blocking ELISA (LPBE) was performed as a confirmatory test which revealed antibodies against Foot and mouth disease (FMD) serotype O, the suggesting that animals may be susceptible to FMD infection from any endemic countries passed through during overseas transportation
The present study aims to explain the rapid detection and sero-typing of FMD virus in sheep that came from free zones in Georgia using the 3ABC FMD ELISA and LPBE as a preliminary line of preventing the entrance and spread of the FMD in to Saudi Arabia

Summary

Introduction

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a member of the Picornaviridae family belongs to the genus Aphthovirus that causes a highly contagious vesicular disease of cattle and other cloven- hoofed animals (Bachrach, 1968 and Pereira, 1981). Mortality due to the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is very low and mostly restricted to young animals, drastic decrease in productivity and working capacity of the animals causes great losses to the livestock industry. The disease has an important socio-economic impact in countries where it is endemic ( Astudillo et al, 1990 and Perry et al ., 1999). FMD provokes huge economic consequences when outbreaks occur in disease free regions, and considered one of the most important barriers to world trade of livestock and animal products (Melo et al, 2002 and Huang et al, 2000)

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion