Detection of Orthopoxvirus Antibodies in Sera of Some Domestic Species in the Sudan

Abstract

This study aimed to know the biological properties of Vaccinia virus in the Chorioallantoic membrane of the chick embryo and cell culture. Also to study the epidemiology of orthopox virus in sheep, cattle and camels in the Sudan as the first study from this type. Vaccinia virus strain is used in this study for propagation in the Chorioallantoic Membrance (CAM) of embryonated eggs. Lesions were seen as small pock ranging from 0.1-0.2 mm in diameter, round, opaque and white in colour. The histopathology of these lesions showed foci of epithelial thickening, swollen cell with pale cytoplasm, eosinophilic inclusion bodies and infiltration of mononuclear cells. When propagated in Vero cells, this virus gave clear Cytopathic effect characterized by rounding of the cells, plaque formation, syncytia and detachment of cells from flask surface. Agar Gel Immuno Diffusion Test (AGID) was used in this study to detect orthopoxviruses antibodies in serum samples collected from cows, sheep and camels from different areas of Sudan. The study revealed that orthopoxvirus antibodies are present in these animals with varying range. The seroprevalence was 35.7% in cattle, 77.9% in sheep and 53.5 % in camel. That means antibodies against orthopox viruses are widely distributed in sheep, cattle and camel in the Sudan.