Characterization of the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype SAT2 in Egypt

Abstract

An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Egypt affected approximately 40,000 cattle and water buffaloes and killed more than 4,600 animals during February-March 2012. To investigate the etiology of the 2012 outbreak, specimens were collected from six governorates and analyzed using universal primers to amplify the 5' untranslated region (UTR) by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Only FMDV-SAT2 was detected, with an overall detection rate of 80.3 %. Complete VP1- and leader-proteinase-coding sequences, obtained from three isolates from three different governorates, were compared with previously reported sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences indicated that the circulating viruses were homogeneous and were closely related to topotype VII. Importantly, the newly emerged viruses were genetically closely related to strains isolated from Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Eritrea and Cameroon between 2000 and 2010, suggesting the dominant nature of this virus and underscoring the need for worldwide intensive surveillance to minimize its devastating consequences.

Morphologic and phenotypic characteristics of myocarditis in two pigs infected by foot-and mouth disease virus strains of serotypes O or A

“…FMD is generally a disease that causes high morbidity and low mortality. However, there are sporadic reports of FMD outbreaks with unusually high mortality rates [[1],[2]], with fatalities often being attributed FMDV-associated myocarditis (as reviewed by [[3]]). Investigations based on specimens obtained from field outbreaks [[2],[4]], as well as experimental studies [[5],[6]], have confirmed a relationship between acute FMDV infection and fatal myocarditis in young ruminants and pigs.…”

Reconstructing Geographical Movements and Host Species Transitions of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Serotype SAT 2

“…For the virus to escape from sub-Saharan Africa four times in 1 year is unprecedented, and it has been suggested that the political changes in the region from 2011 onwards (the “Arab Spring”) may have played a role (), as people and their animals were displaced by conflict or changing governments created new trading relationships and thus new pathways for pathogens to follow. For example, Kandeil et al (8) note that cattle imports to Egypt from other countries in the Nile basin increased following the Egyptian revolution of 2011 due to improved political relationships between the governments involved.…”

A Close Look at the Quarantine Measures Applied During Live Cattle Importation

“…Due to low meat production and high prices of local animals, Egyptian authorities resort to importing livestock animals to fill the gap between production and consumption. As a result of supporting political relations between Egypt and the Nile Basin countries during last year, the importing of live animals increased slightly, especially from Sudan and Ethiopia (Kandeil et al, 2013;EL-Bayoumy et al, 2014). There is no organized FMD control strategy in some African countries from which Egypt import live cattle except sporadic cattle herd vaccination usually after outbreaks (Jibat et al 2013).…”

“…There is no organized FMD control strategy in some African countries from which Egypt import live cattle except sporadic cattle herd vaccination usually after outbreaks (Jibat et al 2013). In 2006, Egypt experienced a major FMD outbreak, resulting in the loss of nearly one million head of cattle (Kandeil et al, 2013). This outbreak was caused by a FMDV serotype "A", which is closely related to FMDV serotype A21 Kenya, shortly after importing of live cattle from Ethiopia and both imported and local breeds expressed the disease (El-Kholy et al, 2007).…”