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Phylogeny of BTV in Morocco: determination of new reassortants

Drif Kamar1, 2, 3*, Fassi Fihri Ouafaa1, Loutfi Chafiqa2, Sebbar Ghizlane2, Chaffai Nadia2, Moulay Ennaji Mustapha3 and Elharrak Mehdi2
  • 1 Agronomic and Veterinary Institut Hassan II, Morocco
  • 2 BIOPHARMA, Morocco
  • 3 FST, Morocco

The bluetongue (BT) is a non-contagious disease transmitted by blood-sucking arthropods of the genus Culicoides. The disease affects small ruminants, especially sheep which are very sensitive. Since 2004 two serotypes circulating in Morocco BTV-1 and 4, several samples were collected during different epidemics, the strains were isolated but no thorough phylogenetic study has been established to characterize and reveal different reassortants have been able to generate from parental strains.The first year of our study involved a serological survey of sheep and cattle to define the epidemiological situation with respect to this arbovirus, also reveal the rate of coinfection by differents serotypes. Out of the 429 sera that were collected, 216 are from the cattle of the Gharb region, 109 were collected in 2009 from different regions of Morocco, and the rest was collected in 2012 from sheep of other regions of the country. All the sera collected were tested by neutralization using reference viruses of serotype 1 and 4 and the result is that the rate of co infection was high especially among cattle. Hence the results prove the importance of a molecular study involving BTV isolates that represents different regions of Morocco and different years since the first outbreak. The next step is mainly based on the sequencing of BTV isolates to better understand the evolution of this virus through the years, then a study of the pathogenesis and immune response of animals would also assess whose goal is to classify different reassortants in Morocco.

Acknowledgements

This research project would not have been possible without the support of many people. I would like to express my gratitude to Mrs Chafiqa Loutfi who was abundantly helpful and offered invaluable assistance support and guidance. My deepest gratitude to Prof. Fassi Fihri Ouafaa and to the respected members of the supervisory committee: Assoc. Prof. Moulay Ennaji Mustapha and Dr. Elharak Mehdi, without their knowledge and assistance this study would not have been successful.

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Keywords: Bluetongue, phylogenetic study, reassortants, serological survey, Arbovirus, neutralization virus

Conference: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI), Milan, Italy, 22 Aug - 27 Aug, 2013.

Presentation Type: Abstract

Topic: Host-pathogen interactions

Citation: Kamar D, Ouafaa F, Chafiqa L, Ghizlane S, Nadia C, Mustapha M and Mehdi E (2013). Phylogeny of BTV in Morocco: determination of new reassortants. Front. Immunol. Conference Abstract: 15th International Congress of Immunology (ICI). doi: 10.3389/conf.fimmu.2013.02.00338

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Received: 17 Mar 2013; Published Online: 22 Aug 2013.

* Correspondence: Mrs. Drif Kamar, Agronomic and Veterinary Institut Hassan II, Rabat, Morocco, drif.kamar@gmail.com