Prevalence of bluetongue virus antibodies in sheep in central Ethiopia

Competitive-ELISA was applied to detect antibodies against bluetongue virus in sheep sera collected from different agro-climatic areas in Ethiopia. A total of 90 serum samples:were tested and 42 (46.67 %) were positive for bl uetongue virus antibodies. A prevalence rate ranging from 9.67 % for sheep sampled in the highland to 92.85 % for sheep sampled in the lowland was rec orded. The prevalence correlated with the probable distribution of the Culi coides vector. This is the first report indicating the presence of bluetong ue virus infection in animals from Ethiopia.