Prevalence of neutralizing antibodies to Akabane virus in ruminants in Saudi Arabia.
A total number of 2125 serum samples collected from indigenous sheep and goats and locally-raised cattle from different localities in Saudi Arabia, were screened for Akabane virus-neutralizing antibodies. The overall prevalence of antibodies was 32% in the animals examined. However the prevalence in cattle was 49%, while in sheep and goats it was 17%. No clinical cases of Akabane have been confirmed so far in Saudi Arabia; but virus isolation attempts are ongoing.
Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia.
A I
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al-Afaleq
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Elzein
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Mellor
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D001103:Arboviruses / Q000276:immunology*; D002417:Cattle / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006041:Goats / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D009500:Neutralization Tests; D012418:Ruminants / Q000821:virology*; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012756:Sheep / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral