Sero Prevalence of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) Virus in Selected Regions in Sudan

Equine infectious anaemia (EIA) is an acute to chronic lentivirus disease affecting members of equidae. In this study, the prevalence of EIA virus antibodies was investigated in 358 sera samples collected randomly from apparently healthy horses and donkeys during 2008-2013. Seven regions in Sudan were investigated, including Khartoum, Nyala, Atbra, Elfashir, Halfa, Madani and Kurdofan.

Results revealed that, the prevalence of EIA virus antibodies in the total samples examined using Indirect ELISA, was 5.58% (20/358*100); of which 3.17% (6/189*100) horse samples and 8.28% (14/169*100) donkey samples. Across the regions sampled; the highest prevalence (11.1%) was detected in donkeys from Halfa. However, all of the sampled donkeys and horses from Atbara were sero-negative to EIA virus.

Conclusion: Equine Infectious Anemia Virus was detected in horses and donkeys in selected regions in Sudan.

High sero-prevalence of the disease in horse from Elfashir and donkeys from Nyala was recorded. The highest prevalence in regions examined was detected in Halfa. Statistically, the chi-square analysis showed that; there is an association between infection and location (P = 0.001).

Further studies for virus and antibody detection such as PCR and ELISA should be conducted to enables rapid identification of Equine Infectious Anemia Virus and to monitor the prevalence of the disease in other parts of the country.