Rift valley antibodies among camels imported into Egypt

ABSTRACT

Studies were conducted to investigate the potential role of imported camels and associated ticks from sudan and Kenya as a mechanism for the introduction of arboviruses into Egypt. Blood specimens were obtained from camels in Southern Egypt on arrival from Sudan during October 1986 through October 1987 and from Kenya during 1986 for serological assays. Also, ticks were collected from camels for viral assays. Antibody to RVF virus was demonstrated by the HI test among 24% [1, 417. 5, 907] of the camels or 19% [1, 040/5, 607] from Sudan and 92% [275/300] from Kenya. Neutralizing antibody was detected in 25 of the antibody positive camels from Kenya and in 75 from Sudan. Also, antibody was demonstrated to Dhori virus by the complement fixation test in 19% [N=200] of a sample of sera, and likewise, antibody to Chikungunya [5%, N=686], West Nile [44%, N=419] and Sindbis [14%, N=419] viruses was detected by the HI test on the basis of immunofluorescent staining, Chikugunya, Sindbis and Dhori viruses were isolated from Hyalomma dromedarii ticks. These data imply that arboviruses may be spread by infected ticks associated with the movement of camels from Kenya and Sudan to Egypt