Genotyping of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Viruses Collected in Sudan Between
2009 and 2018
Abstract
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is widely distributed in Sudan where
outbreaks occur on an annual basis especially during the winter months
(December-February). This study aimed to increase our understanding of
the epidemiological patterns of FMD in Sudan and connections to
neighbouring countries by characterising the genetic sequences of FMD
viruses (FMDV) collected from seven Sudanese states over a 10-year
period (between 2009 and 2018). FMDV was detected in 91 of the 265
samples using an antigen-detection ELISA. Three serotypes were detected:
O (46.2%), A (34.1%), and SAT 2 (19.8%). Fifty-three of these samples
were submitted for sequence analyses, generating sequences that were
characterised as belonging to O/EA-3 (n=18), A/AFRICA/G-IV (n=23) and
SAT 2/VII/Alx-12 (n=12) viral lineages. Phylogenetic analyses provided
evidence that FMDV lineages were maintained within Sudan, and also
highlighted epidemiological connections to FMD outbreaks reported in
neighbouring countries in East and North Africa (such as Ethiopia and
Egypt). This study motivates continued FMD surveillance in Sudan to
monitor the circulating viral lineages and broader initiatives to
improve our understanding of the epidemiological risks in the region.