SEROLOGICAL AND VIROLOGICAL RESPONSES IN MULES AND DONKEYS FOLLOWING INOCULATION WITH AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS VIRUS SEROTYPE-4

Citation
H. Elhasnaoui et al., SEROLOGICAL AND VIROLOGICAL RESPONSES IN MULES AND DONKEYS FOLLOWING INOCULATION WITH AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS VIRUS SEROTYPE-4, Archives of virology, 1998, pp. 29-36
Citations number
8
Categorie Soggetti
Virology
Journal title
ISSN journal
03048608
Year of publication
1998
Supplement
14
Pages
29 - 36
Database
ISI
SICI code
0304-8608(1998):<29:SAVRIM>2.0.ZU;2-7
Abstract
Two groups, comprising 4 donkeys and 4 mules (group 1) and 4 donkeys a nd 3 mules (group 2), were used to determine the duration of viraemia and to monitor the development of antibodies following inoculation wit h African horse sickness virus (AHSV). One group of animals was given a single dose of attenuated AHSV serotype 4 (AHSV 4) vaccine. The seco nd group was inoculated with a virulent field strain of AHSV 4. Both g roups were subsequently challenged with the virulent field strain of A HSV 4, 51 and 58 days, respectively, after their primary inoculation. Blood and serum samples, collected on alternate days after the primary inoculations and also after subsequent challenge, were assayed for vi rus and antibodies. Seven of the 8 AHSV vaccinated (group 1) and 7 of the 7 AHSV inoculated (group 2) animals showed humoral antibody respon ses after primary inoculation. Although no infectious virus could be i solated from either group for the duration of the study, reverse trans cription-PCR data obtained for the second group did show the presence of AHSV viral RNA from as early as day 5 in mules and day 9 in donkeys after the primary inoculation. Viral RNA was detected consistently up to day 47 in some animals and intermittently thereafter. There was no evidence of a second viraemia in any of the animals after challenge. The detection of specific antibodies, against AHSV 4 NS3 protein, in a ll animals confirmed that both donkeys and mules were infected and tha t the virus had replicated.