Epidemiological and Clinicopathological Studies of Sheep Naturally Infected with Foot and Mouth Disease Virus (SAT2) in Egypt

This study was done to evaluate the epidemiological pattern and cardiac markers of foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV, SAT2) in naturally infected sheep, in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt. The specific antigen ELISA test confirmed positive FMDV, SAT2 in sheep with oral lesions (14.7%), lameness (22.9%) and in dead sheep (3.97%). Death was highest (p 0.001) in the age group 1-2 months. Serum samples were collected and categorized based on the survival outcomes (survival or death). Serum from clinically healthy group of sheep was collected and used as control. The assessment of myocardial injury was based on the determination of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aspartate transaminase (AST). Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and CK levels of the death group were significantly (p 0.0001) higher than the survival group. The results were supported by histopathological examination that revealed myocarditis and myocardial necrosis. In conclusion, the cause of deaths in sheep with foot and mouth disease (SAT2) may be due to the myocardial injury and cTnI analysis may be used as an early diagnostic biomarker.