A total of 618 serum samples of sheep, lambs (< 3 months), goats and cattle at five provinces in Egypt
were screened for qualitative analysis of the BTV antibodies using a commercial competitive ELISA
(cELISA) kit. The results showed an overall percentage of BTV positive sheep, lambs (< 3 months),
goats and cattle serum samples were 23.5%, 15%, 10.9% and 10.7% respectively. The results based
upon the serum samples showing optical density values more than 50 percent of the mean of negative
control were taken as positive for presence of BTV antibodies. A highest percentage of seropositivity
was found in Gharbia (20.5%), Alexandria (17.9%), Kafer-El sheikh (16.8%), Mounofia (9%) and
Bahera (9.6%) provinces. From examined sera all over the four seasons of the years 2011 and 2012
indicated the prevalence of BTV antibodies by 21.1% during autumn, 15.6% during winter, 11.1%
during summer and 10.2% during spring. In conclusion, BTV antibodies were widely prevalent in
sheep, lambs (< 3 months), goats and cattle in these provinces of Egypt and cELISA were found to be
sensitive and effective for screening of BTV group specific antibodies |
