Serological Survey of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus in Buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) in Zambia

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the serotypes of foot-and-mouth disease viruses (FMDV) circulating in African buffaloes (Syncerus caffer) from selected areas in Zambia. Sera and probang samples were collected between 2011 and 2012 and analysed for presence of antibodies against FMDV while probang samples were used to isolate the FMDV by observing cytopathic effect (CPE). Samples with CPE were further analysed using antigen ELISA. High FMD seroprevalence was observed and antibodies to all the three Southern African Territories (SAT) serotypes were detected in four study areas represented as follows: SAT2 was 72.7 percent; SAT1 was 62.6 percent; and SAT3 was 26.2 percent. Mixed infections accounted for 68.6 percent of those that were tested positive. For probang samples, CPE were observed in three of the samples, while the antigen ELISA results showed positivity and for SAT1 (n = 1) and SAT2 (n = 2). It is concluded that FMDV is highly prevalent in Zambian buffaloes which could play an important role in the epidemiology of the disease. Therefore livestock reared at interface with the game parks should be included in all routine FMDV vaccination programmes.

Serological investigation of some important RNA viruses affecting sheep and goats in Giza and Beni-Suef governorates in Egypt

“…Actually, buffaloes maintain FMD infections and infect other susceptible species in Sub-Saharan Africa [ 35 ]. Natural and experimental transmission of FMD from carrier buffalo to cattle was confirmed [ 8 ].…”

“…The viral particles present in all discharges and secretions of sick animals, so the virus spreads efficiently. Infection occurs through the exposure to the contaminated materials either directly or indirectly [ 8 ]. Control of FMD infection is so difficult as the wind can spread the virus for a distance of 10 km [ 9 ].…”

Activation of the surface dark-layer to enhance upconversion in a thermal field

“…Recombination is believed to be dependent upon simultaneous replication of distinct viruses within the same cell, co-occupying the same replication complex. Numerous studies, especially in African countries have reported serological evidence of individual animals infected by multiple FMDV serotypes [43][44][45][46][47][48] , which highlights the common occurrence of multiple serotypes affecting herds in endemic countries. Additionally, one study in Pakistan, demonstrated detection and sequencing of two viruses from one sample with different serotypes (A and Asia-1), and another sample with two different sublineages of A/Iran-05 49 .…”

Genetic diversity and comparison of diagnostic tests for characterization of foot‐and‐mouth disease virus strains from Pakistan 2008–2012

“…The presence of multiple FMDVs in the same geotemporal space hinders disease control and may pose an increased risk of emergence of new strains. Numerous studies have reported serological evidence of infection with multiple serotypes within the same animal, which indicates evidence of cumulative, lifetime exposure (Eldaghayes et al., ; Ludi et al., ; Namatovu et al., ; Sikombe et al., ; Wungak et al., ). However, simultaneous coinfection is a distinct subcategory of multiple exposures and has been reported rarely in clinical samples from cattle (Jamal, Ferrari, Ahmed, Normann, & Belsham, ; Souley Kouato et al., ; Ullah et al., ; Wungak et al., ), but is believed to occur more frequently in oropharyngeal fluid samples from African Cape buffalo (Anderson, Doughty, Anderson, & Paling, ; Hedger, ; Vosloo et al., ).…”