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]

ABSTRACT

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