Epidemiological Investigations On Sheeppox In Kassala State, Sudan

The aim of the present study was to determine the situation of sheeppox (SP) in Kassala State, Sudan. Three methods were adopted to achieve the fore-mentioned goal. These methods were questionnaire survey, collection of available data from veterinary services records and detection of antibodies against sheeppox virus (SPV) in the serum samples collected from different localities of the state using agar gel immuno-diffusion (AGID) test. The questionnaire survey outcomes showed that most of the sheep owners have a good knowledge about SP as an epizootic disease in the state. Moreover, 80% of the owners confirmed the presence of the disease in their sheep flocks. Thus, the disease represents a real problem for the sheep owners in the state. From the previously reported outbreaks of SP, which obtained from the veterinary services records, the control of the disease can be achieved easily by means of vaccination which is possible in the state. In addition, the good infrastructure of the veterinary services in Kassala state may help and push the control program of the disease towards sunlight. Out of the 502 serum samples, collected from both sexes of sheep, four age groups (1-12, 13-24, 25-36, 37-48 months) and two production system settled and nomad, were tested using AGID test, 319 (63.55%) of them were positive by the test, whereas 183 (36.45%) were negative. High prevalence of antibodies against SPV was in samples from Algash locality (69.57%, n=115) followed by Kassala locality (66.89%, n=151), Nahr Atbara locality (63.79%, n=116) and Setiet locality (53.33%, n=120). Results of risk factors analysis with respect to age groups and sex of sampled animals revealed no statistical significance between disease prevalence and age and sex (χ²= 2.3751, P-value= 0.498) and (χ²= 0.2039, P-value= 0.652), respectively. However, the highest level of the prevalence was observed in females (64.05%, n=253) and the age less than one year (65.63%, n=233). VIII In conclusion, the findings obtained imply SP is widely distributed in Kassala state localities. It can also be concluded that AGID test is a reliable test to be applied for the detection of SP antibodies under Sudan condition. However, the need for further investigations using more advanced techniques is recommended