Samuel Tezera
University of Gondar , Ethiopia
Title: Molecular Characterization of African Horse Sickness Virus Circulating in Amhara region, Ethiopia
Biography
Biography: Samuel Tezera
Abstract
African horse sickness is a devastating disease of equids caused by an arthropod-borne virus in family of Reoviridae, genus Orbivirus which is transmitted mainly by culicoides species. So far there is no study conducted describing strain of AHSV in Amhara region of Ethiopia. Therefore, this research was done to investigate the nature of outbreaks, assess associated risk factors and identify circulating serotypes of African horse sickness virus by using quantitative real-time RT-PCR from. The indigenous knowledge of equine owners about AHS were assessed through a structured questionnaire format and retrospective data of AHS outbreaks for five years obtained from MoA were analyzed and 1,610 cases, 767 deaths and 123 outbreaks were found from 2007-2011 in Amhara region. Four outbreak were encountered in three districts and majority cases were found in Bahrdar 14 (47.6%) followed by Dangla 11 (36.6%) and Merawi 5 (16.7%). Twenty mule were found died by showing typical sign of cardiac and pulmonary form of AHS, 10 whole blood sample were taken from clinical affected mule for virus isolation on Vero cell and detection of AHSV genomes using conventional RT-PCR were conducted. Further molecular characterization and serotyping were done using real time RT-PCR. Serotype 9 of AHSV is predominant virus circulating in the study areas. In some vaccinated mule against serotype 9 of AHSV were also affected. So further study on molecular characterization of the field isolate and their relationship to vaccinal strain is recommended for development of bi or polyvalent vaccines for all AHSVs.