Diagnosis of a Suspected Rift Valley Fever Outbreak Using Capture IgM ELISA in the Sudan

During an unusual heavy rainfall season, in October 2007, a serological diagnosis was conducted using Rift Valley Fever (RVF) IgM Enzyme Linked- Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) for detection IgM immunoglobulin in suspected outbreak of hemorrhagic fever in The White Nile, Gezira, Sinnar and The Blue Nile States of the Sudan. A total of 323 blood samples were collected from cattle, sheep and goats and analysed. The overall percentages of IgM antibodies in the three species of animals in the study areas were; 53.6% for caprine, 48.3% for ovine and 21.3% for bovine. Gizera State showed highest morbidity (50%) followed by The White Nile (24.6%) and then Sinnar and Blue Nile states, (21%). Bovine showed low infection whereas caprine morbidity was high followed by the ovine. The overall positive percentage of all animal examined (cattle, sheep and goats) from the Study areas was 35.6% (125/323) Table.