EFFECT OF VACCINE ON THE ROLE OF SHEEP AS A CARRIER FOR TRANSMISSION OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE VIRUS.

El-Bagoury, G.F.a, El-Habbaa, A.S.a, Amal A. Mohamedb and Saad, M.A.b

Abstract

Sheep plays an important role as a carrier in the persistence and the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV). The ability of high potency inactivated bivalent FMDV (A and O) vaccine to inhibit local replication of FMDV and carrier state in sheep was studied. The vaccine induced protective titer of serum neutralizing antibody14th days post vaccination and protected vaccinated sheep at challenge after 21 days or 7 months post vaccination in comparison to non-vaccinated one. Oro-pharyngeal fluid samples collected from vaccinated group of sheep showed absence of FMDV antigen for one month post challenge time using ELISA, conversely to non-vaccinated one which transmitted viral infection to contact calves. Our results reflected the important role of highly potent FMDV vaccine in prevention of the carrier state in sheep.

Key words

ELISA, FMD, Sheep, SNT, Vaccine