Journal Article

Isolation, molecular characterization, and genetic diversity of recently isolated foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype A in Egypt

El-Ansary, Ramy E., Kasem, Samy, Badr, Yassien, El-Tabakh, Mohamed A. M., Abdel-Moneim, Ahmed S.

2023

Overview

Foot-and-mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease affecting all hoof-cloven animals. Serotypes A, O and SAT 2 of the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) are circulating in Egypt. The present study aimed to identify and molecularly characterize the FMDV strains circulating in Northern Egypt during an epidemic that struck the nation in 2022. RNA was extracted from the epithelial specimens, vesicular fluid from affected cattle. The samples were screened using real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targeting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene. Positive samples underwent individual serotype-specific amplification using primers designed for VP1 of O, A, and SAT 2 serotypes. Subsequently, direct sequencing was performed on the positive samples. The real-time RT-PCR detected positive samples from epithelial and vesicular fluid samples, but not in the blood of infected animals. Out of the 16 samples, seven tested positive for FMDV serotype A. Of these seven positive samples, six were categorized as serotype A-African topotype-G-IV, and these positive samples were isolated in BHK-21 cells, yielding an overt cytopathic effect caused by the virus. In conclusion, it is necessary to sustain continuous surveillance of the evolution of circulating FMDV strains to facilitate the assessment and aid in the selection of vaccine strains for the effective control of FMDV in Egypt.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Amino acids / Analysis / Animal diseases / Animals / Biological diversity / Biology and Life Sciences / Cattle / Cattle Diseases - epidemiology / Circulation / Dairy cattle / Dairy farms / Diagnosis / DNA-directed RNA polymerase / Egypt - epidemiology / Epidemics / Epidemiology / Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid / Evolution / Foot & mouth disease / Foot-and-mouth disease / Foot-and-Mouth Disease - epidemiology / Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus / Gene amplification / Genetic aspects / Genetic diversity / Genetic transcription / Genetic Variation / Health aspects / Medicine and Health Sciences / Molecular dynamics / Neomycin / Penicillin / People and Places / Phylogeny / Polymerase chain reaction / Real time / Research and Analysis Methods / Ribonucleic acid / RNA / RNA polymerase / RNA-directed RNA polymerase / Serogroup / Serotypes / Strains (organisms) / Vaccines / Viral diseases / Viruses / VP1 protein