THE MECHANISMS OF PATHOGENICITY AND BLOOD CLEARANCE OF RIFT VALLEY FEVER VIRUS IN SHEEP

Document Type : Research article

Authors

Abstract

Adult sheep inoculated either intravenously (1/V) or subcutaneously (S/C) with Rift Valley Fever virus (RVFV) manifested a thermal reaction for 1-3 days occuring during the first three days post-in fection (P.i), but not beyond the third day p.i.
RVFV could be isolated from the sera of infected animals at a higher rate in the I/V inoculated group (100%) than in the S/C inoculated group (55%). Higher titres were found in samples of the first three days p.i. Animals of the S/C group cleared themselves from the virus more rapidly than those of the I/V group.
Seroconversion in infected sheep was clear and the highest Neutra lization Indices (NI's) were obtained at the 14th and 21st days p.i. (4.0).