No abstract

A total of 367 bovine sera positive to antibodies against non-structural proteins (NSPs) of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus were screened for serotype O, A and SAT2 antibodies using the virus neutralization test (VNT). Sera had been collected in 2016 from North (228) and South (139) Darfur States in Western Sudan, where high and low circulation of FMD virus, respectively, prevailed. Tested sera represented the positive-NSPs lot in a random sample of 669 sera collected from both States.According to standard statistical methods, calculations for serial testing (NSPs ELISA and VNT) were applied to estimate prevalence rates of serotype speci c antibodies in the two States. In each State, around 20% of NSPs positive sera failed typing. Prevalence's detected were 49%±5% (O), 27%±5% (A) and 14%±4% (SAT2) in North Darfur State and 27%±5% (O), 17%±4% (A) and 8.0%±3% (SAT2) in South Darfur State. In both States, prevalence rates were signi cantly higher for serotype O, followed by A then SAT2; the same order that was known in most parts of Sudan.Consistently, estimated prevalence's were statistically signi cantly higher (P < 0.05) in North Darfur than in South Darfur State. Apart from serotype SAT2, detected prevalence rates were lower or similar to those inside the country in previous occasions.Frequency and pattern of distribution of serotype O prevalence were consistent with its suggested pattern of circulation from the Nile valley to other parts in Sudan and signi cant within the country's circulation. Alternatively, serotype SAT2 prevalence and distribution in Darfur area were suggestive of sporadic occurrence. However, slightly higher prevalence rates of SAT2 antibodies in Darfur than in neighbouring Kordofan areas in 2013 re ected the wide dissemination of SAT2 (http://www.wrlfmd.org) in Sudan in early 2014. Risk of FMD in Darfur seemed to be associated with the movement of animals to the North in the wet season as part of the pastoral system, and with movement related to trade into urban centers more than with pastoralism across the Western borders. Generally, the result presented little evidence to suggest presence of FMD primary endemic foci in Darfur area.

Foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) is widely distributed in Sudan where outbreaks occur on an annual basis especially during the winter months (December‐February). This study aimed to increase our understanding of the epidemiological patterns of FMD in Sudan and connections to neighbouring countries by characterizing the genetic sequences of FMD viruses (FMDV) collected from samples collected in 10 Sudanese states over a 10‐year period (between 2009 and 2018). FMDV was detected in 91 of the 265 samples using an antigen‐detection ELISA. Three serotypes were detected: O (46.2%), A (34.0%), and SAT 2 (19.8%). Fifty‐two of these samples were submitted for sequence analyses, generating sequences that were characterized as belonging to O/EA‐3 (n = 17), A/AFRICA/G‐IV (n = 23) and SAT 2/VII/Alx‐12 (n = 12) viral lineages. Phylogenetic analyses provided evidence that FMDV lineages were maintained within Sudan, and also highlighted epidemiological connections to FMD outbreaks reported in neighbouring countries in East and North Africa (such as Ethiopia and Egypt). This study motivates continued FMD surveillance in Sudan to monitor the circulating viral lineages and broader initiatives to improve our understanding of the epidemiological risks in the region.

Mononuclear cells infected with Theileria annulata schizonts were isolated at 4 different times from monolayer cultures of primary kidney cells derived from apparently healthy, 2 to 6 weeks old zebu calves. The presence of such an organism could interfere with the manufacturing procedure of rinderpest tissue culture vaccine if it is to be carried out in calf kidney cell culture.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) has been endemic in Sudan for decades and causes continuous outbreaks that have a direct negative impact on the animal population and prevent the exportation of animals from the country. The high diversity of FMD serotypes, especially SAT2 and A serotypes, hinders the development of effective vaccines since the most important component of vaccination is the degree of cross-protection provided by the vaccine against currently circulating field viruses. An immunoinformatic approach was utilized to predict a multi-epitope peptide vaccine design against the SAT2 serotype from a Sudanese isolate targeting virus capsid region P1. The virus capsid region P1 comprises the major immunogenic epitopes that confer protection against the FMD virus. Two predicted T-cell epitopes were identified that showed high binding affinity with MHC1 alleles (VQRSRQSTL and YHAEWDTGL) and high conservation with SAT2 African serotypes and were located within the VP1 and VP3 proteins, respectively. Only one epitope was predicted for B cells (LPATPEDAAH), which scored above the threshold in Bepipred linear epitope, Emini surface accessibility, and Kolaskar and Tongaonkar antigenicity and is located in VP3 protein. Molecular docking of the peptides (VQRSRQSTL and YHAEWDTGL) with the MHC1 allele showed satisfactory interaction with the binding sites of BoLA-HD6 using UCSF chimera 1.13.1 software. The peptide VQRSRQSTL showed remarkable hydrophobic interaction with the BoLA-HD6 allele, which was superior to the other peptides. This study is the first to propose a peptide vaccine against FMD SAT2 serotypes from a Sudanese isolate.