Background and Aim: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus causes continuous outbreaks, leading to serious economic consequences that affect animal productivity and restrict trade movement. The potential influence of the disease was due to the emergence of new strains or re-emergence of local strains with major antigenic variations due to genetic mutations. This study aims to evaluate circulating virus in samples collected from infected animals during an outbreak using antigenic characterization and identify whether there is an emergence of a new strain or mutation. Materials and Methods: Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to screen 86 samples. Viral protein 1 (VP1) codon sequencing was performed. The virus was isolated from the samples inoculated on the baby-hamster kidney cell line and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed for serotyping and antigen detection. Results: Based on the RT-PCR screening results, 10 positive samples were selected for sequencing. The sequences belonged to the FMD serotype A African topotype originating from the ancestor prototype Sudan/77, with which it shared 98.48% ± 1.2% similarity. The divergence with local isolates from 2020 was 9.3%. In addition, the sequences were 96.84% ± 1.01% and 95.84% ± 0.79% related to Egyptian-Damietta type 2016 and Sudanese-2018, respectively. Divergence with vaccinal strains ranged from 10% to 17%. Amino acid sequence analysis revealed that the isolates had variation in the most prominent antigenic regions (residues 35–75) and the immunogenic determinants of the G-H loop of VP1 (residues 100–146 and 161–175). Conclusion: The current isolates should be included in the locally produced vaccine to provide broader immunogenic coverage against serotype A African topotypes. Keywords: Epicenters, foot and mouth disease virus, foot-and-mouth disease virus Africa type G-IV, mutations, outbreaks, viral protein 1.

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) is a serious veterinary health concern worldwide. We conducted this study to determine the prevalence of persistent infections (PI) and identify the current strain among some dairy cattle herds in Egypt. A total of 240 serum samples were collected from six Egyptian provinces. Between 2019 and 2020, samples were tested by Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of PI animals, and then molecular characterization was performed. Six calves were found PI with a prevalence of 2.5% (6/240). Using molecular characterization, HoBi-like Pestivirus (BVD-3) was successfully identified in Egypt for the first time. Based on the BVD-3 reference strains on Genbank, the detected strains had an identity ranging from 98.8 to 99.6%. Partial nucleotide sequence of the 5′UTR gene for six tested samples was submitted to Genbank with accessions: OM324396, OM324397, OM324398, OM324399, OM3243100, and OM3243101.

Background and Aim: Bovine papillomaviruses (BPV) are a heterogeneous group of oncoviruses, distributed globally, which produce major economic losses. In the current study, we compared the results of different diagnostic approaches and compared the strains identified in this study with previously characterized strains at local and international levels. Materials and Methods: Samples of skin warts were collected from five bovines with generalized papillomatosis from two Egyptian provinces, Menya and Ismailia, in 2020. Electron microscopy, molecular characterization, histopathological, and immunohistochemical examination were performed. Results: BPV was detected using electron microscopy in the collected samples. Using molecular characterization, BPV-2 was successfully identified for 1st time in Egypt. The strain has 99.6% identity with the BPV-2 reference strains obtained from GenBank. These results were supported by histopathology and immunohistochemistry examination. Partial nucleotide sequences of the L1 gene were submitted to GenBank with accession numbers MW289843 and MW289844. Conclusion: BPV-2 was reported for 1st time in the current study. The strain was identified grossly, microscopically, and pathologically and confirmed using molecular approaches. All results were consistent. The sequence analysis revealed that this strain has high sequence similarity to the reference Deltapapillomavirus-4, BPV-2 strains from Brazil and China.

| Sheep pox is a viral diseases of sheep characterized by fever, generalized papules or nodules, vesicles (rarely), lesions in internal organs and death. Sheeppox virus (SPPV) is the causative agents of Sheeppox, together with goat pox virus (GPV) and lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) make up the genus Capri poxvirus in the family Poxviridae. The aim of the current study is to monitor and follow up the current situation of Sheeppox (SPPV) in Egypt. A total of thirty-two samples (scabs, biopsies from skin nodules and necropsies from internal organs) were collected from suspected infected sheep with SPPV from two Egyptian governorates (Beheira and Giza) during the summer season of 2018 and 2019. Virus isolation into embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and molecular identification were carried out. Our results revealed that nineteen samples (19/32; 56.4%) were positive based on virus isolation into ECEs. Two representative positive samples were examined using TEM that showed protein filaments projected from the external membrane. Meanwhile, fifteen samples out of nineteen positive samples from virus isolation (15/19; 78.9%) were positive based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis for representative two samples, which revealed high percentage of identity with SPPV reference stains from different countries including Egypt. In conclusions, our findings revealed that the circulation of SPPV within the Egyptian field. Further studies and surveillance are required to monitor the virus evolution and transmission pathways to better understand the virus pathobiology that will help for SPPV control.

| In the present study, forty-three fecal samples were collected between 2018 and 2020, were tested for bovine Rotavirus (RBV) by rapid commercial strip test, Ag detection sandwich ELISA and RT-PCR for screening and matching of sensitivity and specificity. Our results revealed that seven samples (7/43; 16.2%) were positive by rapid test, fourteen and ten samples were positive by Ag detection ELISA (14/43; 32.5%) and RT-PCR (10/43; 23.2%), respectively. Sequence analysis for one positive sample showed its complete identity with the recent BRV Egyptian strains which reassures the vaccine reliability and negates any recent virus evolution. Meanwhile, comparison between both the rapid test and RT-PCR and ELISA, the sensitivity was 50% and 71.5% respectively, while specificity was identical. In conclusions, ELISA can be considered as a simple, sensitive and reliable test for BRV detection and devoid the drawbacks of other tests.

| This study was intended for the antigenic and molecular characterization of betacoronavirus 1 (bovine coronavirus) BCoV in newborn gastroenteritis calves in the Delta Region, Menofia Province, Egypt, also for isolation and identification of the local circulating BCoV strain for further diagnosis or vaccination. In cattle, Betacoronavirus 1 bovine coronavirus (BCoV) is primarily involved in enteric infections which leads to serious complication which may be fatal in young calves up to 3 months of age. A total of 20 fecal samples were collected in the winter season of 2018 and 2019, all samples were serologically screening by antigen-capture ELISA, then molecular confirmation by RT-PCR targeted to nucleocapsid protein gene (N-gene) was carried out followed by phylogenetic analysis. Positive samples were isolated on Vero cell culture and identified by TEM and immune-peroxidase technique. Betacoronavirus 1 was detected by ELISA in 6 out of 20 fecal samples (30%), PCR detected 4 out of 6 ELISA positive samples at specific M.W. band of 236 bp by electrophoresis, and one sample was sequenced and submitted on Genbank with acc.no. MW173144, further phylogenetic sequence analysis revealed high percentage of identity with reference strains from different countries. Phylogenetic tree cleared that current research strain was found related to France strains 2013 and 2014, also to local Egypt strain 2019 with acc.no. MN053321, two samples were successfully isolated in Vero cells and positively identified after the 3rd passage by TEM and immune-peroxidase technique. ELISA results are considered an alarmingly high prevalence that requires further statistically designed epidemiological studies, phylogenetic analysis revealed minimum evolution rate and stability of BCoV genome.