Egypt is endemic for Foot and mouth disease (FMD) virus with continuous long-lasting outbreaks
in different provinces causing significant losses in the animal livestock. This study was designed to
show convenience of rapid detection tests in suspecting prevalence of FMD virus in Egypt during
autumn and winter 2016 and spring and summer 2017. Samples collected from clinically suspected
cattle and buffaloes at different governorates, were subjected to antigen detection ELISA and real
time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR). Although FMD virus serotype O
is more prevalent during that period, serotypes A and SAT2 were also found in less prevalent cases.
It was showed that from 2018 samples, 62 (28.44%) and 72 (33.02%) samples were positive for
FMD virus (Serotypes A, O and SAT2) using antigen detection ELISA and rRT-PCR, respectively.
Trials for virus isolation on BHK-21 from aseptically prepared 24 positive samples by antigendetection
ELISA and rRT-PCR, revealed four isolates, three for serotype O samples and one SAT2.
Finally, rRT-PCR was employed as it has a greater sensitivity over the conventional ELISA and
virus isolation for the diagnosis of FMD virus suspected samples which are not detected by the
ELISA or not produce a CPE in cell cultures with fast and quantitative assessment of the virus.