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Research Project: Longitudinal Study of FMD Vaccinated and Unvaccinated Cattle in Cameroon

Location:

Project Number: 8064-32000-061-018-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jun 1, 2015
End Date: May 31, 2020

Objective:
This research project seeks to build upon previous research conducted between ARS, PIADC and National Veterinary Laboratory of Cameroon (LANAVET) which provided an understanding of the ecology of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV) circulating in Cameroon. This research project will further these efforts to increase our understanding of the viruses circulating in the North region of Cameroon and to understand the relationship of these strains to the vaccine antigens introduced in Cameroon recently. This information will be used to assess current vaccination efforts. Specific objectives include: 1. Continue a surveillance system to determine the strains of FMDV circulating clinically and sub clinically in the North Region of Cameroon. 2. Characterize the basic epidemiological factors influencing the circulation of FMDV. 3. Genetically and antigenically characterize FMDV strains and determine their relationship to vaccine strains. 4. Assess the effect of vaccination with currently available inactivated vaccine on clinical and subclinical infections.

Approach:
Longitudinal study of over 400 animals in the North region will be conducted to determine what viral strains are circulating clinically and sub clinically and how they relate to current vaccine strains. An assessment of the incidence of clinical and subclinical infections in vaccinated vs. non-vaccinated animals in these herds will also be conducted. 1. Serum and probang sampling will be taken from vaccinated and unvaccinated animals in sedentary herds over a period of two years. Animals will be sampled at least 4 times a year and during clinical disease outbreaks. Questionnaires will be taken at the beginning of the study and updates such as vaccinations, new animal introduction or movement will be documented. 2. Serum samples will be used to assess infection rates by NSP ELISA tests developed by ARS. Probangs will be screened utilizing real-time RT-PCR and RT-PCR followed by virus isolation. 3. Samples from clinical cases will be identified for virus isolation. Viral strains will be genetically characterized. Analysis and comparisons between viral strains and herds will be performed using specific epidemiological information per herd. 4. Genetic and antigenic relationship data of the strains circulating in Cameroon and the vaccine strains will be analyzed. This information will be provided the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Cameroon to help select the antigenic composition of the vaccine formulations to be used in future control programs.