Sero-survey on The Presence of Antibodies Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Small Ruminants in the Al-Ahsa Region, Saudi Arabia, During 2023

Al-Hammadi, Mohammed Ali

doi:10.21608/ejvs.2024.337111.2500

Sero-survey on The Presence of Antibodies Against Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Small Ruminants in the Al-Ahsa Region, Saudi Arabia, During 2023

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Mohammed Ali Al-Hammadi

King Faisal University

10.21608/ejvs.2024.337111.2500

Abstract

Foot and Mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease in cloven-hoofed animals. In contrast to cattle and pigs, Foot and Mouth Disease in small ruminants have been incompletely examined in previous researches. Therefore, this survey was designed to investigate the sero-prevalence of Foot and Mouth Disease among adult sheep at Al-Ahsa Province, Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia during year 2023. A total of 1,356 serum samples from sheep were collected from 16 locations within Al-Ahsa Province, Saudi Arabia. A specific ABC ELISA kits were used to determine the presence of antibodies from the collected serum samples. The data illustrates the distribution of negative, suspect, and positive cases among a total of 1,356 sheep sampled. 162 (12%) sheep were recorded positive, while 85.7% were recorded negative and 31 (2.3%) recorded suspect. The prevalence % of FMD among sheep in 16 regions was 1.2, 47.50, 37.80, 15.0, 9.66, 3.45, 4.88, 6.49, 5.0, 24.59, 7.50, 2.30, 8.20, 8.54, 14.77, and 12.2 respectively. The obtained results concluded that FMD sero-prevalence in the sheep at Al-Ahsa Province, Saudi Arabia, was considered slightly higher recorded than previous years or other regions. In order to update the approach to vaccination for this province district, more detailed investigations of FMD virus serotypes, and regular molecular characterisation is further recommended.

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