Virological Studies on Bovine Virus Diarrhea in camels

Bovine viral diarrhea virus is a major pathogen of cattle.The disease has worldwide distribution. It is also demonstratedin ruminants other than cattle. Many evidences of BVDVdemonstration in camels have been recorded but very fewavailable publications were concerned with the isolation ofBVDV from camels. There is only one record for BVDVisolation from camels in Egypt reported by (Abo-Ellail, 1997).The current study aimed to detect BVDV virus in blood andsera of camels and to spot the light on the role of camels assource for BVDV infection in Egypt. A total of 184 samples (92sera and 92 buffy coat samples)· have been collected from 2different localities, Belbeis abattoir, El-Sharkia, Egypt and theSaint Katherine Protectorate, South Sinai, Egypt. The sampleswere screened using new ELISA commercial kits for detectingthe gp 48/EO glycoprotein of the BVD virus-H. A total of 14samples were positive for ELISA (2 sera and 12 buffy coatsamples) . The ELISA positive samples were used in isolationattempts in MDBK cells. Three isolates didn’t show cytopathiceffect (Non-cytopathogenic ”NCPII). Eleven isolates showedclear cytopathic effect ( cytopathogenic IICPI). The cytopathiceffect appeared as foci of lysed cells. All the isolates were thenidentified by direct Fluorescent Antibody Technique (FAT)using BVD-FITC polyclonal conjugate. All the cytopathic andnon-cytopathic isolates were positive for FAT by detecting theintra-cytoplasmic fluorescence. The CP-BVDV isolates were