Study of Akabane infection in Saudi Arabia by the use of sentinel ruminants

Abstract

Two sentinel herds of calves (Eastern and Central regions of Saudi Arabia) and one of sheep and goats (South Western region) were established to study Akabane virus infection. The herd at the Al-Ahsa oasis (Eastern region) showed evidence of Akabane viral activity, as reflected by the presence of maternal (colostral) antibody, which had waned to insignificant concentrations by the time the calves had reached the age of 5 months. There was no evidence of subsequent seroconversion. The other two sentinel herds gave no indication of Akabane viral activity.