Authors
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Elijah N Mulabbi
Makerere University
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Chrisostom Ayebazibwe
Ministry of Agriculture Animal Resources and Fisheries
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Samuel Majalija
Makerere University
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Carrie A Batten
Institute for Animal Health
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Christopher A.L Oura
Makerere University
Abstract
The presence of bluetongue virus (BTV) in indigenous goats from the Karamoja region of northern Uganda was investigated. A total of 300 goats were sampled (serum and whole blood) from five districts within the Karamoja region. The samples were analysed for the presence of bluetongue (BT) antibodies using a commercial Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and for the presence of BTV viral RNA by real-time Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), because BTV is an RNA virus. Of the 300 goats tested, 269 (90%) were positive for BTV antibodies, indicating high levels of BTV circulation within the region. Out of the 150 whole blood samples tested for the presence of the virus by realtime RT-PCR, 84 (56%) were positive for BTV RNA. This study, which is the first of its kind in Uganda, showed a high seroprevalence of BT antibodies and active circulation of BTV in a
high proportion of goats in the Karamoja region.
Author Biographies
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Elijah N Mulabbi, Makerere University
Department of Bio molecular Resources and Bio laboratory Sciences, Makerere University, Uganda
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Chrisostom Ayebazibwe, Ministry of Agriculture Animal Resources and Fisheries
National Animal Disease Diagnostics and Epidemiology Center, Ministry of Agriculture Animal Resources and Fisheries, Uganda
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Samuel Majalija, Makerere University
Department of Bio molecular Resources and Bio laboratory Sciences, Makerere University, Uganda
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Carrie A Batten, Institute for Animal Health
Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright, United Kingdom
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Christopher A.L Oura, Makerere University
Department of Bio molecular Resources and Bio laboratory Sciences, Makerere University, Uganda and
Institute for Animal Health, Pirbright, United Kingdom and School of Veterinary Medicine, University of West
Indies, Trinidad and Tobago
