Foot and mouth disease (FMD) sub-clinically infected animals, are always a threat to susceptible herds. During
Hajj season 2009 (1431 Hijri) the kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) imported about 204,583 sheep from FMD free
areas from Republic of Georgia through Jeddah Islamic seaport. The animals were clinically free from FMD and
authorized as not been previously vaccinated. However, but during the routine laboratory examination of serum
samples using FMD-3ABC ELISA some sheep consignments exhibited positivness for FMD anti-bodies. The
liquid phase blocking ELISA (LPBE) was performed as a confirmatory test which revealed antibodies against
FMD serotype O, the suggesting that animals may be susceptible to FMD infection from any endemic countries
passed through during overseas transportation. This study will contribute towards the development of an
appropriate strategy for FMD control, including the choice of countries of the animal importation, as well as
assist to improve our understanding of the epidemiology of FMD. |
