Activities in 2009 Surveillance and Control of Animal Disease in Africa Prof. A.J. Musoke ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X 05, Onderstepoort, 0110, Republic of South Africa Tel.: (+27-12) 529.91.06, Fax: (+27-12) 565.46.64 MusokeT@arc.agric.za Summary of activities specifically related to the mandate of OIE Collaborating Centres 1. Activities as a centre of research, expertise, standardisation and dissemination of techniques within the remit of the mandate given by the OIE An on-going collaboration exists between ARC-OVI and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), a vaccine producing company, on the detection of live virus and antibodies in experimental animal blood and sera Regular monitoring of the Kenilworth quarantine station for the exportation of horses to the European Union (EU) in Cape Town, South Africa, for the presence and abundance of AHSV vectors. Regular collection and analysis of Culicoides species associated with Zebra at four to five sites in Namibia. The development of improved recombinant indirect ELISA tests for detecting antibodies in sera to LSD virus (LSDV) and sheeppox and goatpox viruses is ongoing. The European Community Reference Laboratory for FMD and the OIE and FAO-World Reference Laboratory (WRL) for FMD at the Pirbright laboratory of the Institute for Animal Health (IAH-P) organised an exercise for foot-and-mouth vaccine matching studies as discussed and agreed at the last Network meeting held in Lanzhou, P.R. China in September 2008. The aim of this exercise was to evaluate whether similar vaccine matching results are obtained by laboratories using their own methods but with the same FMD vaccine virus, bovine vaccine sera (BVS) and field isolates in order to establish equivalence in the vaccine matching methods that are done in different laboratories. The benefits of this work should be that the vaccine matching data produced in different labs is comparable and can therefore be integrated to produce a more reliable and complete set of recommendations on vaccine selection for different settings. The FMD laboratory participated in the 2009 round of proficiency testing for FMD and SVD being jointly organised by the European Community Reference Laboratories for FMD and SVD and the FAO World Reference Laboratory for FMD in the Pirbright Laboratory of the Institute for Animal Health. Four panels (listed below) were received and tested by various diagnostic personnel within the laboratory. In collaboration with researchers at the IZSLER institute, Brescia, Italy the NSP ELISA, is validated to be used in the differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals, specific for the African context. The non-structural proteins (NSPs) included in the commercially available serological test kits that allow measurement of antibodies to the NSPs are all based on proteins or peptides derived from the 3ABC-coding region of the EuroAsian-South American serotypes A and O of FMDV. However, we have found significant variation and poor correlation between the sensitivities of different NSP ELISA kits using sera from SAT1, 2 or 3 infected cattle. Towards the development a NSP ELISA using SAT-type antigens a truncated version of 3ABC-coding region of a SAT2 virus was expressed in E. coli and successfully applied in an ELISA. To validate the custom-made ELISA approximately 700 sera from naïve, vaccinated and infected animals were collected. Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2009 1 Surveillance and Control of Animal Diseases in Africa A real-time PCR assay has been developed for the detection of FMDV in clinical samples. The TaqMan® primers (SA-IR-219-246F; SA-IR-315-293R) and probe (SAmulti2-P-IR-292-269R) have been designed to anneal to the internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) within the conserved 5’ untranslated region (5’ UTR) of the genome, as described by Reid et al., 2002. Following RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, the real time PCR was carried out in MicroAmp optical 96-well reaction plates (Applied Biosystems) in a 7500 Real-time PCR system (Applied Biosystems) according to the method of Shaw et al., 2007. The threshold cycle (CT) was calculated automatically by the system software (version 3.1; Applied Biosystems) and a value was assigned to each PCR reaction. This newly introduced diagnostic technique will allow for rapid and accurate diagnosis of samples. Future objectives include validation of the cut-off value to be used at TADP and the possible use of other primers and probes for FMDV detection. Sequencing results generated for the 3D protein region of SAT viruses were used to design primers and a TaqMan® probe for development of a real-time that is more sensitive for SAT viruses. A project on diagnosing and typing disease-causing BTV in endeavours to understand disease epidemiology exists between ARC-OVI and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) of South Africa is on-going. A study investigating the oral susceptibility of C. imicola and other South African livestock associated Culicoides species to various BTV-8 isolates was conducted at ARC-OVI in 2008 and 2009, using the artificial feeding method. During the reporting period ASF outbreaks were characterised from Namibia and Cameroon. Further characterisation by CVR sub-genotyping of the Cameroonian and Namibian outbreak strains on research basis is pending acquisition of more isolates from the respective geographic regions. 2. Proposal or development of any procedure that will facilitate harmonisation of international regulations applicable to the surveillance and control of animal diseases, food safety or animal welfare RVF IgG indirect ELISA: The test has been validated and is utilised in the Virology laboratory as a routine in-house diagnostic assay. The shelf life of plates pre-coated with recombinant nucleocapsid (NC) protein and Protein-G conjugate is 12 months. RVF IgM ELISA: A recombinant NC-Horse Radish Peroxidase (HRP) conjugate is used in the IgM ELISA format to shorten the normal assay time by 2 hours and the assay procedure to two steps. Stability of coating the detecting IgM antibody onto the plate was optimised while the recombinant NC-RVF-HRP conjugate was optimized for shelf life stability. The coating buffer and vacuum drying conditions of the plates were also optimized. Diagnostic cut-off must still be determined during the on going validation procedure. A lack of enough IgM-positive RVF serum samples has prevented a proper validation to date. However, the recent outbreak in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa has now given the researchers in charge direct access to sources of positive sera. Funding for the second phase of the development of a marker-free lumpy skin disease virus-vectored -Rift Valley fever dual vaccine was applied for and secured from the Gates Foundation (via GALVmed). Research was undertaken to develop an antigen capture ELISA for AHSV. A Chicken was immunised with recombinant AHSV VP7 (AHSV group-specific antigen). IgY was extracted from eggs. The purified IgY could be employed in an AHSV antigen-capture ELISA in combination with a murine anti-VP7 monoclonal antibody to detect AHSV at a concentration of 30ng/ml. Further work on the development of an antigen capture ELISA using the IgY for both virus capture and detection is underway.This ELISA will be employed to distinguish AHSV cell culture isolates from EEV isolates. As an extension of this line of research, an indirect ELISA EEV was also developed. The ELISA uses recombinant EEV VP7 antigen and HRP conjugated protein G in an indirect format. The ELISA has undergone fit-for-purpose validation. The ELISA was sent to the UAE where it was successfully shown that significant titres of EEV VP7 antibodies were present in 6.6% of more than 800 horse sera tested. The ELISA is currently being used in-house for routine diagnostics. Additionally, in a project on African horsesickness funded by the South African National department of Agriculture (DoA), we have sequenced virulent and attenuated strains of AHSV to establish which factors affect the virulence of AHSV. To date several virulent and attenuated strains of AHSV sequenced. Genome sequence comparisons show that attenuated viruses have one change in common namely a single amino acid change in Viral Protein 2 (VP2). To prove if this single change alters the virulence of the virus, a reverse genetics system is needed. Such a system will allow us to change viruses, one segment at a time and determine the changes related to attenuation. If successful, this system may allow the development of tailor made live- attenuated vaccines for AHSV and other similar viruses. 2 Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2009 Surveillance and Control of Animal Diseases in Africa As a part of this project, a suitable attenuated, plaque-purified strain of AHSV4 namely HS32/62 10S, 10BHK 3LP 1 Vero was propagated in BHK cells. The gnome of the virus (ten segments) was successfully amplified using a sequence-independent amplification procedure. The complete genome sequence of this virus was determined using GFLX sequencing. Subsequently, using the same amplified cDNA, the ten genome segments were successfully cloned into plasmid pGEM-T. The partial sequence (terminal ends) of each segment was determined. A research project was undertaken with the objective of designing and testing a method and reagents for the rapid identification of bluetongue virus (BTV) blood samples from suspected animals. A large proportion of these are made up of blood samples taken at different stages from donor sheep and goats. One of the accepted methods, and the only molecular method, of screening is by reverse-transcription (RT) nested PCR. The aim of this project was to develop a new method that makes use of the advantages of real-time PCR to increase on the speed and ease-of-use of the nested PCR portion of the test. During a later phase of the project a more extensive validation will be done by comparing several performance parameters of the test with that of the nested PCR test currently used. The detection of ASF viral DNA is achieved by use of the PCR technique that has been developed to target highly conserved regions of the genome. This allows for the detection and identification of a wide range of isolates belonging to all the known virus genotypes, including both haemadsorbing and non-haemadsorbing viruses, and isolates of low virulence. It is useful for identifying virus DNA in pig tissues that are unsuitable for virus isolation or antigen detection because they have undergone putrefaction, or when it is suspected that the virus may have been inactivated during transport or at any time before samples arrive in the laboratory. The initial experiments for the development of a competitive ELISA (c-ELISA) for southern African lyssaviruses (i.e. canid and mongoose rabies (genotype 1), Lagos bat virus (genotype 2), Mokola virus (genotype 3) and Duvenhage virus (genotype 4) were initiated at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency during the year under review. This is a joint project between the two sister OIE Rabies Reference Laboratories (Canada and South Africa) and the University of Pretoria (South Africa) and it is envisged that through this tool, surveillance of rabies-related viruses in Southern Africa will be made possible. This serological tool could be further used for evaluating success of rabies vaccination programs in South Africa and the whole sub-region. The Rabies laboratory produced two batches of 60 ml each of anti-rabies FITC labelled conjugate (N4-15 and N416) for use in our laboratory as well as for distribution to one international and several regional laboratories. They have supplied the conjugate to ccPro (Germany) (20 vials), Namibia (5 vials) and one vial each to the Central Veterinary Laboratories in Swaziland, Malawi, Tanzania, Botswana. During the year under review, 33% [502/1507] of the total submitted samples to the Rabies laboratory were positive for the lyssavirus antigen, with the majority (60%) originating from domestic dogs. The re-emergence of dog rabies in certain parts of the country notably Mpumalanga province demonstrate that there are still some foci in which rabies still exists. This study demonstrated that the re-emergence of rabies in Mpumalanga province resulted from the spread of rabies from Nkomazi district. 3. Placement of expert consultants at the disposal of the OIE Two FMD experts Drs Dwarka and Maree presented lectures at the FMD/ASF training workshop for state veterinarians and animal health technicians at the Mpumulanga veterinary services offices, Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. Other activities related to the mandate of OIE Collaborating Centres 4. Provision of scientific and technical training, within the remit of the mandate given by the OIE, to personnel from OIE Members Two technicians from Niger and Botswana respectively, received training on RVF diagnosis. The tests they received training on were the IgG based antibody detection ELISA, virus neutralisation test (VNT), virus isolation (VI) and RT-PCR Two scientists at CIRAD (Montpellier, France) received training at the end of September 2009 on the use of green fluorescent protein marker in the selection of LSDV-vectored recombinant vaccine constructs. Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2009 3 Surveillance and Control of Animal Diseases in Africa A technician from Botswana National Veterinary Laboratory was receiving training in culture, serological and molecular techniques used in the diagnosis of FMD. Researchers from the Netherlands and Belgium received training on BTV and AHSV genome amplification utilising a published method. MSc and PhD students at the University of Pretoria Faculty of Veterinary science (UPFVS) were trained on BTV isolation in embryonating chicken eggs (ECE). The students originated from various countries in the sub-Sahara region. Training in cell-culture based rabies diagnosis was provided to scientists at the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) in Jos, Nigeria. As a direct result of the recommendations emanating from the 8 th South East African Rabies Group (SEARG) conference held in Gaborone in August 2008, the OIE Sub regional office funded a rabies diagnostic training at ARC-OVI from July 27-31, 2009. The main objective of this training was to provide both theoretical and practical training on rabies diagnosis with a view to enhance skills and knowledge on latest diagnostic tests and techniques available for use in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. All SADC member countries with the exception of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mauritius sent trainees. 5. Organisation of scientific meetings on behalf of the OIE None 6. Coordination of scientific and technical studies in collaboration with other laboratories, organisations or collaborating centres “Surveillance network of Reoviruses, Bluetongue (BT) and African Horse Sickness (AHS), in the Mediterranean basin” (MedReoNet). The initiator and main coordinator of this project is the Centre de cooperation internationale en recherché argonomique pour le dèveloppement (CIRAD) in France. It involves countries from Europe, North Africa, Turkey and South Africa. Twenty one international organisations that have dealt or are still dealing with BT, AHS and epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) are full partners in the project. Medreonet can be seen as an EU funded coordination action aimed at the enhancement of surveillance of Culicoides - transmitted diseases: BT, AHS and EHD. This project focuses on sharing and exchanging data, expertise, experiences and information via regular meetings, maintaining and expanding surveillance systems, setting a European database including surveillance, disease occurrence, virus isolation and vaccine use. It also focuses on diagnostic and control tools and ensures wide dissemination of information to all concerned parties. The DRC Central Veterinary Laboratory has send field frozen and formalin fixed skin nodules, trachea and spleen specimens from two cows and calves and Lumpy Skin Disease confirmation was requested. A history of a cattle herd consisting of animals with extensive multiple firm nodules on the body was given. The nodules and increased secretions were also observed on the nasal, buccal, laryngeal, and tracheal mucosa. Calves were severely affected. The causative organism, Capripox virus, was clearly demonstrated by EM, while histopathological findings were consistent with LSDV infection and supported the diagnoses. This was the first laboratory confirmation of LSD in the DRC and a short communication authored and co-authored by the CVL Kinshasa, ARC-OVI and UPFVS is in progress. Project (LABOVET) entitled “Collaborative Project for five African Veterinary Research Laboratories for the Control and Surveillance of animal diseases”. The French government funded the undertaking from 2005 to 2009 and CIRAD (France) was the coordinator. Five African nations viz Mali, Algeria, Ethiopia, Cameroon and South Africa and the FAO/IAEA joint division (Austria) were involved. The main diseases covered included LSD (and sheeppox and goatpox), contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia (CBPP), peste de petits ruminants (PPR) and bluetongue (BT). The project was officially terminated at the end of 2009 and compilation of the final report is in progress. 4 Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2009 Surveillance and Control of Animal Diseases in Africa A collaborative research venture with IAH (Pirbright, UK) and the UPFVS aimed at elucidating the role of hard ticks in the transmission of LSDV is in progress. The Transboundary Diseases Programme are involved in a collaborative project with Plum Island Animal Disease Centre, USDA (since 1999) and Glasgow University (since 2004) with the objective of identifying antigenic determinants of SAT viruses, using sequence data and antigenic relatedness. The antigenic determinant and calculated r-values were applied in vaccine matching using a novel mathematical approach. Collaboration was initiated between Institute for Animal Health at Pirbright, Surrey, UK and TADP-OVI to investigate the virus-host interaction in buffalo and testing a new marker vaccine. A collaborative study with Intervet on the development of improved recombinant vaccines for FMDV control. Full protection against live viral challenge were observed in animals vaccinated with a custom-made, BEI-inactivated recombinant vaccine. A study is conducted to investigate the effect of genetic heterogeneity within the 3ABC polypeptide of FMDV and its effect in the sensitivity of non-structural protein (NSP) ELISA kits CODA-CERVA-VAR Institute in Belgium and IZSLER Institute in Brescia, Italy A collaborative study was conducted to amplified and sequenced the genome of five virus isolates from recent BT outbreaks in Europe. The genomes of two isolates of BTV were sequenced in collaboration with the IAH, Pirbright, UK, ASG-Lelystadt, Holland and VAR, Belgium. Both isolates turned out to be serotypes of BTV (BTV6 and 1 1) that had not been observed before in Europe. The 52 sequences of these viruses were compared to the 52 sequences in a local database andwere found to be identical to those of the OBP vaccine strains. This information is important since it indicated that the live attenuated vaccine strains could have been used in Europe. The complete genome of BTVI I was sequenced for comparison to the Belgian isolate. The collaboration will continue on AHSV, BTV, EHDV, EEV and related dsRNA viruses where needed. In a collaborative study with the University of the Balearic Islands, the Laboratorio Central Veterinario-Sanidad Animal in Spain and the IAH, Pirbright in the United Kingdom, aimed at determining the oral susceptibility of C. imicola and other South African livestock associated Culicoides species to various European isolates of BTV-8. Collaborative project funded by the Wellcome Trust entitled “African swine fever virus: Development of vaccines and epidemiological investigations“. Collaborative project funded by the European Union Framework 7 Project entitled “Evaluating and controlling the risk of African swine fever in the EU”. 7. Publication and dissemination of any information within the remit of the mandate given by the OIE that may be useful to Members of the OIE Presentations at international conferences and meetings Gerdes, G.H. (2009). Field Diagnostics: Rapid Tests – New Developments. OIE Seminar: Re-Emergence of Rift Valley Fever In Southern Africa, Bloemfontein, South Africa, February 16-18. Wallace, D.B. (2009). New Avenues For Vaccine Development (Rift Valley Fever). OIE Seminar: Re-Emergence of Rift Valley Fever In Southern Africa, Bloemfontein, South Africa, February 16-18. Wallace, D.B. (2009). Diagnostic And Vaccine Research And Development On Rift Valley Fever At The Arc-Ovi. USDA-ILRI Workshop on Rift Valley Fever. ILRI, Kenya, 27-28 August. Baptiste Dungu, Ian Louw, Alison Lubisi, Pamela Hunter, Michele Bouloy And Beate F. Von Teichman, 2010. Evaluation of The Efficacy And Safety Of The Rift Valley Fever Clone 13 Vaccine In Sheep. Vaccine (Submitted) Wallace, D.B. (2009). Lumpy Skin Disease: Classical and Molecular Aspects. Cirad (Montpellier, France) Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2009 5 Surveillance and Control of Animal Diseases in Africa Vosloo, W. Foot and Mouth Disease In Sub-Saharan Africa: The Current Status And Control Options. OIE/FAO Global Conference an Foot And Mouth Disease, The Way Towards Global Control, Asunción, Paraguay, 24 - 26 June 2009. F.F. Maree, B. Blignaut, P. Opperman, T. De Beer, R. Reeve and E. Rieder. Structural Design of SAT Type Footand-Mouth Disease Viruses With Improved Antigenic or Biological Properties. OIE/FAO Global Conference on Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). 24-26 June 2009, Asuncion, Paraguay. Poster Presentation. B Botha, RM Dwarka, Nte Mtshali and R Bengis. Monitoring Genetic Variability Of Foot-And-Mouth Disease Virus Strains Circulating In The African Buffalo (Syncerus Caffer) Population In The Kruger National Park. South African Association for Veterinary Technology, 15-16 September 2009, Batterboys Village, Pretoria, Dwarka, RM. Participation In Round Table Discussion On FMD Diagnostics Methods. EU FMD: Global Control Of FMD. Erice, Italy. 14-17 October 2009. Blignaut B. 2009. 12th Meeting Of The International Society For Veterinary Epidemiology And Economics (ISVEE). Durban, South Africa. 10-14 August 2009. Blignaut B. 2009. Predicting Antigenic Sites on The FMDV capsid From Cross-Reactivity Data OIE/FAO FMD Reference Laboratories Network Meeting. NACS Complex, New Delhi, India. 23-27 November 2009. Dwarka RM. 2009. Foot-And Mouth Disease Virus Strains Circulating In Southern Africa (Pool 6) And Harmonisation Of Diagnostic Tests In The Region. OIE/FAO FMD Reference Laboratories Network Meeting. NASC Complex, New Delhi, India. 23-27 November 2009. Heath L. 2009. Final SADC FMD Project Focal Point Meeting. Gaborone, Botswana. 3 November 2009 Gerdes GH, Kekana H, Combrink P, Wright I, 2009. Bluetongue 2008 -2009: Unusual Cases. The 2nd Oie Bluetongue Network Meeting Held In Torredi Cerrano, Teramo, Italy, 1-3 June 2009. Venter GJ, Wright I, Del Rio R, Majatladi D. Hermanides K .Miranda-Chueca MA, 2009. Culicoides Imicola As A Vector Of BTV-8. Lisbon, Portugal, 2-4 December 2009 Venter GJ, Labuschagne K, Liebenberg J. Hermanides K. Boikanyo S. Majatladi D. Van Der Linde, T.C. 2009. Light Trap Comparisons. Lisbon, Portugal, 2-4 December 2009. B.A. Lubisi, D. Meenowa, R. Jaumally, R.M. Dwarka, N.Mtshali And D. Semenya, 2009. An Epidemiological investigation into The 2007 Outbreak Of African Swine Fever In The Island of Mauritius. Annual Meeting Of National African Swine Fever Laboratories Held At The Community Reference Laboratory For African Swine Fever, Centro De Investigación En Sanidad Animal – Cisa, Instituto Nacional De Investigación Y Tecnología Agraria Y Alimentaria, - Inia-28130 Valdeolmos, Madrid-Spain, On 17 June 2009. L.E. Heath , B.A. Lubisi*, R.M. Dwarka, N. Mtshalii, B. Botha, C. Quembo, 2009 African Swine Fever in Africa. Annual Meeting Of National African Swine Fever Laboratories Held At The Community Reference Laboratory For African Swine Fever, Centro De Investigación En Sanidad Animal – CISA, Instituto Nacional De Investigación Y Tecnología Agraria Y Alimentaria, - Inia-28130 Valdeolmos, Madrid-Spain, On 17 June 2009. B.A. Lubisi, R.M. Dwarka, D. Meenowa, R. Jaumally, D. Semenya, N.Mtshali, and L. Heath. Poster: A Study into the First Outbreak of African Swine Fever In The Republic Of Mauritius. The 14th International Symposium for the World Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Held In Madrid, Spain, 18-20 June 2009 Sabeta, C. Attended A Committee Meeting On The Elimination Of Rabies In Kwazulu/Natal, A Study Being Sponsored By The Bill And Melinda Gates Foundation, 19th January, 2009. Sabeta, C.T., Lucille Blumberg, Debra Kgwana Mohale, Jacobeth Mmantshuruge Miyen, Shumba, W, and Alexander Immanuel Wandeler. Europe-Africa Frontier Research Conference Series on Infectious Diseases: From Basic to Translational Research, Cape Town, 4-9 April. 2009. Shumba W. Attended The Rabies Advisory Group (RAG) Meeting In Pietermaritzburg, 5-6 May, 2009. 6 Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2009 Surveillance and Control of Animal Diseases in Africa Sabeta, C. Presentation Made To the European Virus Archive (EVA) On the Possible Entry of the ARC to the Eva Consortium. Ljubljana, Slovenia. June 18 & 19, 2009. Ngoepe, C.E., Mohale, K.D., Wandeler, A.I., Sabeta, C.T. The Role of Monoclonal Antibodies (MAB) In The Study Of Epidemiology Of Lyssaviruses In South Africa. The 12th International Symposium on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics (ISVEE), Durban, South Africa (10-14th August 2009). Mkhize G.C., Ngoepe E.C. Du Plessis B.J.A, Reininghaus B. and Sabeta C.T. 12th International Symposium on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics (ISVEE Xii). Durban, South Africa 9 -14 August 2009. Scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals Clift SJ, Williams MC, Gerdes T, Smit MM., 2009. Standardization and validation of an immunoperoxidase assay for the detection of African horse sickness virus in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. J Vet Diagn Invest. 21(5):655-667. Erasmus BJ. Potgieter AC, 2009. The history of bluetongue. In Bluetongue ed. by PS. Mellor, M. Bayliss and PC. Mertens, pp 7-21. Elsevier. Page PC, Labuschagne K, Nurton JP, Venter GJ, Guthrie AJ, 2009. Duration of repellency of N,N-diethyl-3methylbenzamide, citronella oil and cypermethrin against Culicoides species when applied to polyester mesh. Vet Parasitol 163: 105-109. Potgieter AC, Page NA, Liebenberg J, Wright IM, Landt O, van Dijk AA, 2009. Improved strategies for sequenceindependent amplification and sequencing of viral double-stranded RNA genomes. J Gen Virol. 90(6):1423-1432. Venter GJ, Hermanides KG, Boikanyo SN, Majatladi DM, Morey L, 2009. Comparison of the efficiency of five suction light traps under field conditions in South Africa for the collection of Culicoides species.Vet Parasitol. 166(3-4):343-345. Venter GJ, Labuschagne K, Hermanides KG, Boikanyo SN, Majatladi DM, Morey L, 2009. Comparison of the efficiency of five suction light traps under field conditions in South Africa for the collection of Culicoides species.Vet Parasitol. 166(3-4):299-307. Venter GJ, Wright IM, Van Der Linde TC, Paweska JT, 2009. The oral susceptibility of South African field populations of Culicoides to African horse sickness virus. Med Vet Entomol. 23(4):367-378. Veronesi E, Venter GJ, Labuschagne K, Mellor PS, Carpenter S, 2009. Life-history parameters of Culicoides (Avaritia) imicola Kieffer in the laboratory at different rearing temperatures. Vet Parasitol 163: 370-373. Babiuk, S., Wallace, D.B., Smith, S.J., Bowden, T.R., Dalman, B., Parkyn, G., Copps, J & Boyle, D.B. (2009). Detection of antibodies against capripoxviruses using an inactivated sheeppox virus ELISA. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 56, 132-141. Le Goff, C., Lamien, C.E., Fakhfakh, E., Chadeyras, A., Aba-Adulugba, E., Libeau, G., Tuppurainen, E., Wallace, D.B., Adam, T., Silber, S., Gulyaz, V., Madani, H., Caufour, P., Hammami, S., Diallo, A. & Albina, E. (2009). Capripoxvirus G-protein-coupled chemokine receptor: a host-range gene suitable for virus animal origin discrimination. Journal of General Virology, 90, 1967-1977. Vosloo W., Thompson P.N., Botha B., Bengis R.G., Thomson G.R. Longitudinal study to investigate the role of impala (Aepyceros melampus) in foot-and-mouth disease maintenance in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 2009, Mar 56(1-2), 18-30. De Clercq K, Mertens P, De Leeuw I, Oura C, Houdart P, Potgieter AC, Maan S, Hooyberghs J, Batten C, Vandemeulebroucke E, Wright IM, Maan N, Riocreux F, Sanders A, Vanderstede Y, Nomikou K, Raemaekers M, Bin-Tarif A, Shaw A, Henstock M, Bréard E, Dubois E, Gastaldi-Thiéry C, Zientara S, Verheyden B, Vandenbussche F., 2009. Emergence of bluetongue serotypes in Europe, part 2: the occurrence of a BTV-11 strain in Belgium. Transbound Emerg Dis. 56(9-10):355-361. Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2009 7 Surveillance and Control of Animal Diseases in Africa Erasmus BJ. Potgieter AC, 2009. The history of Bluetongue. In Bluetongue ed. by PS Mellor, M Baylis and PC Mertens) pp 7-21. Elsevier. Page PC, Labuschagne K, Nurton JP, Venter GJ, Guthrie AJ, 2009. Duration of repellency of N,N-diethyl-3methylbenzamide, citronella oil and cypermethrin against Culicoides species when applied to polyester mesh. Vet Parasitol 163: 105-109. Potgieter AC, Page NA, Liebenberg J, Wright IM, Landt O, van Dijk AA, 2009. Improved strategies for sequenceindependent amplification and sequencing of viral double-stranded RNA genomes. J Gen Virol. 90(6):1423-1432. Venter GJ, Hermanides KG, Boikanyo SN, Majatladi DM, Morey L. 2009. Comparison of the efficiency of five suction light traps under field conditions in South Africa for the collection of Culicoides species.Vet Parasitol. 166(3-4):343-345. B.A. Lubisi, R.M. Dwarka, D. Meenowa and R. Jaumally, 2009. An investigation into the first outbreak of African swine fever in the Republic of Mauritius. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 56(5):178-188. Penrith ML, Vosloo W., 2009. Review of African swine fever: transmission, spread and control. J S Afr Vet Assoc. 80(2):58-62. Costard S, Wieland B, de Glanville W, Jori F, Rowlands R, Vosloo W, Roger F, Pfeiffer DU, Dixon LK, 2009. African swine fever: how can global spread be prevented? Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci., Sabeta, C.T., Lucille Blumberg, Debra Kgwana Mohale, Jacobeth Mmantshuruge Miyen, Shumba, W, and Alexander Immanuel Wandeler. 2009. Mokola virus (MOKV) involved in a human contact (South Africa). FEMS Medical Microbiology and Immunology. Zulu, G., Ngoepe, E., Du Plessis, B., Reninghaus, B. and Sabeta, C. 2009. Spread of canid rabies from Nkomazi, Mpumalanga province (South Africa). Vector-borne and Zoonotic Diseases. Accepted for publication. Markotter, W., York, D., Sabeta, C.T., Shumba, W., Zulu. G., Le Roux, K and Nel, L.H. 2009. Evaluation of a rapid immunodiagnostic test kit for detection of African lyssaviruses from brain material. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research. 76: 257-262. Ngoepe, EC., Sabeta, C.T. and Nel, L.H. 2009. The spread of canine rabies into the Free State Province of South Africa: a molecular epidemiological characterization. Virus Research. 142:175-180. Zulu, GC, Sabeta, C.T. and Nel, L.H. 2009. Molecular epidemiology of rabies: focus on domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) and black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) from northern South Africa. Virus Research. 140 (1-2): 7178. Tuppurainen ESM., Stoltsz H., Troskie M., Wallace D.B., Oura C., Mellor P.S., Coetzer J.A.W. and Venter E.H. (2009). Transmission of LSDV by hard (ixodid) ticks. XIII International Congress on Veterinary Virology, European Society of Veterinary Virology. Budapest, Hungary, 23 – 26 August. Babiuk, S. Wallace, D.B. Smith, S.J.Bowden, T.R. Dalman, B. Parkyn, G. Copps, J. Boyle, D.B. Detection Of Antibodies Against Capripoxviruses Using An Inactivated Sheeppox Virus Elisa. Transboundary And Emerging Diseases. Page, P.C. Labuschagne, K. Nurton, J.P. Venter, G.J. Guthrie, A.J .Duration Of Repellency Of N,N-Diethyl-3Methylbenzamide, Citronella Oil And Cypermethrin Against Culicoides Species When Applied To Polyester Mesh. Veterinary Parasitology. Cohen, C. Sartorius, B. Sabeta, C. Zulu, G.C. Paweska, J. Mogoswane, M. Sutton, C. Nel, L.H. Wanepoel, R. Leman, P.A. Grobbelaar, A.A. Epidemiology And Molecular Virus Characterization Of Reemerging Rabies, South Africa. Emerging Infectious Diseases. Kremer, K. Rutten, V.P.M.G. Connoway, L. Mare, L. Coetzee, M.L. Hlokwe, T.M. Michel, A.L. Mycobacterium Bovis Genetic Diversity In A Low Prevalence Setting. Veterinary Microbiology. 8 High Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2009 Surveillance and Control of Animal Diseases in Africa Zweygarth, E. Koekemoer, J.J.O. In Vitro Cultivation Of A Theileria Species From A Roan Antelope (Hippotragus Equinus). Parasitology Research Van Helden, P. Kremer, K. Bengis, R.G. Cooper, D. Warren, C. Mare, L. Keet, D.F. Michel, A.L. Coetzee, M.L. Molecular Epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis Isolates from Free-Ranging Wildlife in South African Game Reserves. Veterinary Microbiology. Mamabolo, M.V. Ntantiso, L. Ibrahim, A.A. Majiwa, F.A. Natural Infection Of Cattle And Tsetse Flies In South Africa With Two Genotypic Groups Of Trypanosoma Congolense. Parasitology. Hassan , W. Khair, S.A.M. Mochotlhoane, B. Abolnik, C. Newcastle Disease Outbreaks in the Sudan from 2003 to 2006. Virus Genes. Koekemoer, J.J.O. Serotype-Specific Detection of African Horsesickness Virus By Real-Time PCR And The Influence of Genetic Variations. Journal of Virological Methods Zweygarth, E. Koekemoer, J.J.O. Josemans, A.I. Rambritch, N.E. Pienaar, R. Putterill, J.F. Ibrahim, A.A. Potgieter, F.T. Theileria-Infected cell line from an African Buffalo (Syncerus Caffer). Parasitol Research. Spickett, A.M. Heyne, I.H. Ticks of Livestock in the North West Province of South Africa. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association. Other communications Sabeta, C. Rabies in South Africa: an overview. Presented to NVRI, Nigeria, 12 March 2009. Ogo, F., Nel, L.H. and Sabeta, CT. Molecular epidemiology of dog rabies in Nigeria. ISID News, 10 (3): 8-9. Sabeta, C. 2009. Animal Rabies Diagnosis: from the field to the laboratory. Presentation made at the World Rabies Day Scientific Events, Upington, Northern Cape, South Africa. Sabeta, C. T., Zulu, G.C. & Ngoepe, C.E. 2009. The re-mergence of rabies in northern South Africa. Seminar presented on 10 December to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Ottawa, Canada. _______________ Annual reports of OIE Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres, 2009 9