Background: Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) is the causative agent of Q fever, a zoonotic disease that is prevalent worldwide. Domestic and companion animals are the main reservoirs of infection. Humans mainly acquire the infection through inhalation of contaminated aerosols. Objectives: This study was carried out to detect the prevalence of C. burnetii antibodies in dairy cattle sera samples collected in nine states and in camel sera samples in four states in Sudan during May 2015-March 2016. Methods: A total of 244 cattle sera and 76 camel sera samples were collected and screened for anti-C. burnetii IgG antibodies, using a commercial Q fever antibody ELISA test kit (IDEXX). Results: In dairy cattle, the results indicated an overall 29.92% prevalence of C. burnetii antibodies whereas an overall 64.5% prevalence rate was detected in dairy camel. Conclusions: Our data indicate that C. burnetii is widespread in dairy cattle and camel in Sudan. Both animal and human health workers in Sudan should be aware of the possibility of Q fever infection in animals and humans.

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Background: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infections are widely prevalent in human beings and animals worldwide. Humans become infected post-natally by ingesting tissue cysts from undercooked meat, consuming food or drink contaminated with oocysts or by accidentally ingesting oocysts from the environment. Objectives: The present study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infections in chickens in Sudan, during the period between December 2015 and January 2016. Methods: Sera were separated from blood samples, which were collected from the wing vein of chickens (n = 58). Commercial serum agglutination kits (toxoplasmosis latex test kit) for Toxoplasma antibodies detection, using diluted blood serum samples (1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64), were used. Results: Twenty-five, seventeen and sixteen chicken sera from river Nile, Khartoum and Sennar states, were positive, respectively. These represented a seroprevalence of 100% in all states with different titers. Conclusions:Toxoplasma gondii infection is prevalent in chickens of Sudan. Therefore, further investigations on the parasite in other States of Sudan is important.

Background: Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infections are widely prevalent in human beings and animals worldwide. Humans become infected post-natally by ingesting tissue cysts from undercooked meat, consuming food or drink contaminated with oocysts or by accidentally ingesting oocysts from the environment. Objectives: The present study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii infections in chickens in Sudan, during the period between December 2015 and January 2016. Methods: Sera were separated from blood samples, which were collected from the wing vein of chickens (n = 58). Commercial serum agglutination kits (toxoplasmosis latex test kit) for Toxoplasma antibodies detection, using diluted blood serum samples (1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64), were used. Results: Twenty-five, seventeen and sixteen chicken sera from river Nile, Khartoum and Sennar states, were positive, respectively. These represented a seroprevalence of 100% in all states with different titers. Conclusions:Toxoplasma gondii infection is prevalent in chickens of Sudan. Therefore, further investigations on the parasite in other States of Sudan is important.

The Simbu serogroup is one of the serogroups that belong to the Orthobunyavirus genus of the family Peribunyaviridae. Simbu serogroup viruses are transmitted mainly by Culicoides biting midges. Meager information is available on Simbu serogroup virus infection in ruminants in Sudan. Therefore, in this study, serological surveillance of Simbu serogroup viruses in cattle in seven states in Sudan was conducted during the period from May, 2015, to March, 2016, to shed some light on the prevalence of this group of viruses in our country. Using a cross-sectional design, 184 cattle sera were collected and tested by a commercial SBV ELISA kit which enables the detection of antibodies against various Simbu serogroup viruses. The results showed an overall 86.4% prevalence of antibodies to Simbu serogroup viruses in cattle in Sudan. Univariate analysis showed a significant association ( p = 0.007 ) between ELISA seropositivity and states where samples were collected. This study suggests that Simbu serogroup virus infection is present in cattle in Sudan. Further epizootiological investigations on Simbu serogroup viruses infection and virus species involved are warranted.