potential role of Rattus rattus in enzoonotic cycle of Rift Valley Fever in Egypt. 2 - Application of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction [RT-PcR] in blood samples of Rattus rattus

A reverse transcriptase -polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] was applied to detect Rift Valley Fever Virus [RVF-V] in blood samples of Rattus rattus [R. rattus] collected from 3 different governorates of Egypt, Alexandria, Behira and Minia governorates [one hundred each]. Out of 300 blood samples 29 [9.67%] were positive for RVF-Virus by RT-PCR with higher percent in Behira governorate rural areas [16%], followed by Minia governorate rural areas [13.85%] while the lowest percent was in Alexandria governorate urban areas [0.00%]. The overall percent in rural areas were [13.5%] while it was only [2.0%] in urban areas. Our Study suggests that, this R.rattus play an important role in the maintenance cycle of RVF-V in rural areas of Egypt

Foot and mouth disease [FMD]: serological investigation in some farms of Alexandria governorate of Egypt

Suspected cases of foot and mouth disease [FMD] in cattle were noted in some farms of Alexandria governorate during the period from January to March 2000. The investigated cattle suffered from oral and foot lesions associated with lameness in addition to fever in some and inappetance in others. At the same time, the contact workers and veterinarian suffered from fever during the course of the disease in cattle. Blood samples were withdrawal from suspected cases of cattle [31 cows] and from 24 contact cases. Saliva and vesicular lesions of the tongue were taken on glycerol buffer saline for isolation and serotyping of FMD virus by hyperimmune sera. The virus was isolated from all saliva and vesicular lesions of the diseased animals and serotyped as FMD01. Only 10 out of 24 contact cases were positive by ELISA for anti-FMD antibodies. Also, 25 blood samples were withdrawal from contact persons with diseased animals and were suffered from fever. While, 25 blood samples were taken from contact persons who did not suffer from fever. Moreover, 5 blood samples were taken from persons who were not in contact with any veterinary source [children] and were used as negative control. A total of 13 out of 25 and 2 out of 25 were positive for anti-FMD antibodies from diseased and contact persons, respectively

potential role of rattus rattus in enzootic cycle of rift valley fever in Egypt 1- detection of RVF antibodies in R. rattus blood samples by both enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay [ELISA] and immuno-diffusion technique [ID]

Three hundreds of Rattus rattus [R. rattus] were trapped from 3 different governorates of Egypt [one hundred each], blood samples were withdrawal and subjected for detection of anti-RVF antibodies by both ELISA and ID techniques. The prevalence rate of antibodies by ELISA were 88 [29.33%] positive out of 300 tested blood samples, the highest rate was in Behira governorate 36 [36%] and the lowest one was in Alexandria governorate 22 [22%] while it was 30 [30%] in Minia governorate. But when ID technique was applied it gave only 18 [6%] positive samples out of 300 tested blood samples with the highest rate in Behira and Minia governorates [8%] and it was only [2%] in Alexandria governorate. Our study suggests that these R. rattus make possible candidate as intermediate host in the maintenance cycle of RVF in Egypt