Newcastle disease (ND) is caused by virulent strains of avian paramyxovirus type 1, also known as Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Despite vaccination, the frequency of reported outbreaks in Ethiopia has increased. From January to June 2022, an active outbreak investigation was conducted in six commercial chicken farms across areas of central Ethiopia to identify the circulating NDV strains. Thirty pooled tissue specimens were collected from chickens suspected of being infected with NDV. A questionnaire survey of farm owners and veterinarians was also carried out to collect information on the farms and the outbreak status. NDV was isolated using specific-pathogen-free (SPF)-embryonated chicken eggs and detected using haemagglutination and the reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR). The genotype and virulence of field NDV isolates were determined using phylogenetic analysis of fusion (F) protein gene sequences and the mean death time (MDT) test in SPF-embryonated chicken eggs. The questionnaire results revealed that ND caused morbidity (23.1%), mortality (16.3%), case fatality (70.8%), and significant economic losses. Eleven of thirty tissue specimens tested positive for NDV using haemagglutination and RT–PCR. The MDT testing and sequence analysis revealed the presence of virulent NDV classified as genotype VII of class II velogenic pathotype and distinct from locally used vaccine strains (genotype II). The amino acid sequences of the current virulent NDV fusion protein cleavage site motif revealed 112RRQKR↓F117, unlike the locally used avirulent vaccine strains (112GRQGR↓L117). The epidemiological data, MDT results, cleavage site sequence, and phylogenetic analysis all indicated that the present NDV isolates were virulent. The four NDV sequences were deposited in GenBank with accession numbers F gene (PP726912-15) and M gene (PP726916-19). The genetic difference between avirulent vaccine strains and circulating virulent NDV could explain the low level of protection provided by locally used vaccines. Further studies are needed to better understand the circulating NDV genotypes in different production systems.
Abstract Background Foot-and-mouth disease is globally one of the most economically important viral diseases of cloven-hoofed animals that can be controlled by different strategies, where vaccination plays an important role. Selection of the adjuvants,that added to the vaccine is crucial in ensuring the protective effect of the vaccine. Aluminum hydroxide gel and saponin (AS) is widely used adjuvant, with its poor immune response in FMD vaccine. The present study was undertaken to evaluate different ingredients of adjuvants for inactivated trivalent (A, O and SAT 2) FMD vaccine and to demonstrate the effect of booster dose in cattle. Results Cattle were grouped into five; four experimental and one control, with six animals in each group and immunized with trivalent vaccine with various formulations of adjuvants. Immune response was measured using Solid Phase Competitive Enzyme Linked Immune Sorbent Assay (SPCE). The antibody level in cattle immunised with a vaccine formulation containing a mixture of aluminum hydroxide gel and saponin (AS) were significantly lower than AS boosted group for the three serotypes (p < 0.05, t . test ), which directs the need for booster dose. Whereas the antibody response in the AS + oil group was higher followed by oil alone, AS boosted and AS at 95% CI. Conclusion The findings of this study could suggest that oil based and AS with oil could replace the conventional aluminum hydroxide gel and saponin adjuvants in FMD vaccine preparations. On different note, challenge test was not successful in this study indicating the need for further research on the virus infectivity.
Foot-and-mouth disease is globally one of the most economically important viral diseases of cloven-hoofed animals that can be controlled by different strategies, where vaccination plays an important role. Selection of adjuvant added to vaccine preparation is crucial in ensuring the protective effect of the vaccine. Aluminum hydroxide gel mixed with saponin (AS) is widely used adjuvant, with its suboptimal immune response in FMD vaccine. The present study was undertaken to evaluate different ingredients of adjuvants for inactivated trivalent (A, O and SAT 2) FMD vaccine and to demonstrate the effect of booster dose in cattle.Cattle were grouped into five; four experimental and one control, with six animals in each group and immunized with trivalent vaccine with various formulations of adjuvants. Immune response was measured using Solid Phase Competitive Enzyme Linked Immune Sorbent Assay (SPCE).The antibody level in cattle immunised with a vaccine formulation containing a mixture of aluminum hydroxide gel and saponin (AS) were significantly lower than AS boosted group for the three serotypes (p<0.05, t-test), which directs the need for booster dose. Whereas the antibody response in the AS + oil group was higher followed by oil alone. The AS preparation with a booster dose has shown better immune response compared to the group without.The findings of this study could suggest that oil based and AS with oil could replace the conventional aluminum hydroxide gel and saponin adjuvants in FMD vaccine preparations. Challenge test was not successful indicating the need for further research on the virus infectivity.
Infectious Laryngotrachitis is an important respiratory disease of chicken caused by <i>gallid herpes virus-І</i> belonged to family <i>Herpesviridae</i>, subfamily <i>Alphaherpesvirinae,</i> genus <i>Iltovirus</i> The disease has little or no previous documented data in the country. The study was conducted from November 2022 to June 2022 by a cross-sectional study design with purposive sampling strategy. In this study, a molecular detection of ILTV were conducted generally in 12 pooled samples out of the total 40 poultries sampled from peasant Associations (PAs) of in and around Bishoftu town and the bordering district Liban Cuqala. Swab samples from upper trachea and tracheal tissue samples were collected from the selected PAs in the study area. From the total 12 pooled samples, 3 samples were positively detected for the presence of Infectious Laryngotrachitis. The study revealed an overall PCR detection of 25%. Three strains of ILT namely ICP4, TCO low and TCO high were detected with the general master mix that can bind with all of the ILT strains. Generally, ILTV were one of the serious avian respiratory pathogen challenging the study areas resulted in high economic losses. Control and prevention measures through vaccination programmed should schedule within the viral strains.
Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is one of the most economically significant viral diseases of cattle caused by the Lumpy Skin Disease Virus (LSDV), classified as a member of the genus Capripoxvirus and belongs to the family Poxviridae. Nodular skin samples were collected from clinically sick cattle in the districts of Amuru and Wara Jarso Ethiopia to isolate LSD virus. The virus was isolated using primary lamb testis and kidney cells. The isolated LSDV was infected into a healthy calf while maintaining the necessary biosecurity measures to generate skin lesions and to assess disease progression using postmortem examinations. On the fourth day after virus inoculation, the calf developed typical LSD skin nodules with increased rectal temperature, which lasted until the 12th day, when they began to decrease. Viral shedding was detected in nasal, oral, and conjunctival swabs from 6 to 14 days after infection using real-time PCR. Post-mortem tissue specimens tested positive for LSD virus using real-time PCR and virus isolation. This study showed that LSDV were responsible for the LSD outbreaks, and the appearance of typical skin nodules accompanied by fever (> 39.5 °C) defined the virus's virulent status. The experimental infection with the isolated infectious LSDV could serve as a platform for future vaccine evaluation study using an LSDV challenge model.