Serological and Molecular Detection of Akabane Virus in Iran

The present study was conducted on sixty healthy female domestic ruminants that suffered from still births or abortion, to find sero-positive cases and also to determine the probable role of uterine tissue in diagnosis of akabane viral infection and viral persistency. Because of this, a serological test (ELISA) and molecular (RT-PCR) diagnostic methods were used to find the seropositive cases and also the presence of the akabane viral genome in uterine samples. Among 2400 head, sixty female animals (20 cattle, 20 sheep and 20 goats) with a history of still births or abortion (suspected group) and sixty healthy ones (control group) were selected and referred to the slaughter house for further evaluations. Blood and uterine body samples were taken and stored at -20 and -70 ˚C, respectively. At the beginning of the experiment all serum samples were tested for brucellosis and 3 sheep of the suspected group and 1 sheep of the control group were positive. The remaining samples were selected for further study. Results of ELISA showed that among 17 suspected sheep only one of them was positive for akabane virus and among 20 suspected goats only three of them were inconclusive. It’s notable that no positive or inconclusive cases were found in suspected cattle and also the control group. The prevalence rate of akabane virus antibody among 57 suspected animals was 1.75 percent. RT-PCR assay was conducted on uterine tissues from the suspected animals and results showed that all samples were free of the akabane genome. According to the obtained results the presence of antibody against akabane virus in suspected sheep and goats was proven or substantiated for the first time in Iran.