Source: KENYA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE submitted to 

EXPANSION OF THE KENYAN RIFT VALLEY FEVER (RVF) VETERINARY SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM TO

INCLUDE WILDLIFE SPECIES

Project Director

WILSON W C

Recipient Organization

KENYA AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE

BIOTECHNOLOGY CENTER

NAIROBI,null null

Performing Department

(N/A)

Non Technical Summary

(N/A)

Animal Health Component 60%

Basic 20%

Applied 60%

Developmental 20%

Research Effort Categories

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA) Subject of Investigation (SOI) Field of Science (FOS) Percent

311 3410 1101 33%

311 3610 1090 33%

311 3310 1090 34%

Knowledge Area

311 - Animal Diseases;

Sponsoring Institution Agricultural Research

Service/USDA

Project Status TERMINATED

Funding Source USDA COOPERATIVE

AGREEMENT

Reporting Frequency Annual Accession No. 0412497

Grant No. (N/A) Project No. 5430-32000-001-02S

Proposal No. (N/A) Multistate No. (N/A)

Program Code (N/A) Project Start Date Sep 1, 2007

Project End Date Jan 31, 2012 Grant Year (N/A)

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Subject Of Investigation

3610 - Sheep, live animal; 3310 - Beef cattle, live animal; 3410 - Dairy cattle, live animal;

Field Of Science

1101 - Virology; 1090 - Immunology;

Goals / Objectives

The primary objective of this project is to evaluate the LAMP test for RVF and to expand our knowledge about

Rift Valley fever (RVF) epidemiology in Kenya by expanding the ongoing Kenya veterinary surveillance program

to include wildlife species.

Project Methods

The ongoing veterinary surveillance will be expanded by the inclusion of wildlife sero-surveillance in Kenya. The

project will also evaluate the newly developed RVF LAMP diagnostic test developed by mutual FAO/IAEA

collaborators. KARI will archive veterinary surveillance samples collected and assayed using existing diagnostic

technology as part of their ongoing projects. The ABADRL has collected and stored serum and tissue samples

from wild rodents in Kenya at the end of the 2006-2007 RVF outbreak. This was accomplished through a

collaboration with USDA, APHIS, National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC), US Army Medical Research

Unit-Kenya (USAMRU-K) and Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). The ABADRL scientists will work with

KARI scientists in Kenyan facilities to gain experience with existing diagnostics, perform the analysis of the wild

rodent samples using current assays, and assist in the evaluation of the LAMP diagnostic test. The ABADRL,

KARI and mutually agreed upon collaborating scientists with the assistance of the USDA, APHIS, Centers for

Epidemiology and Animal Health (CEAH) will consolidate the information generated in this project with the

existing data to initiate the development of a comprehensive epidemiological understanding of RVF in Kenya.

Progress 09/01/07 to 01/31/12

Outputs

Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The primary objective of this project is to evaluate the LAMP test

for RVF and to expand our knowledge about Rift Valley fever (RVF) epidemiology in Kenya by expanding the

ongoing Kenya veterinary surveillance program to include wildlife species. Approach (from AD-416): The

ongoing veterinary surveillance will be expanded by the inclusion of wildlife sero-surveillance in Kenya. The

project will also evaluate the newly developed RVF LAMP diagnostic test developed by mutual FAO/IAEA

collaborators. KARI will archive veterinary surveillance samples collected and assayed using existing

diagnostic technology as part of their ongoing projects. The ABADRL has collected and stored serum and

tissue samples from wild rodents in Kenya at the end of the 2006-2007 RVF outbreak. This was accomplished

through a collaboration with USDA, APHIS, National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC), US Army Medical

Research Unit- Kenya (USAMRU-K) and Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). The ABADRL scientists will

work with KARI scientists in Kenyan facilities to gain experience with existing diagnostics, perform the

analysis of the wild rodent samples using current assays, and assist in the evaluation of the LAMP diagnostic

test. The ABADRL, KARI and mutually agreed upon collaborating scientists with the assistance of the USDA,

APHIS, Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health (CEAH) will consolidate the information generated in this

project with the existing data to initiate the development of a comprehensive epidemiological understanding

of RVF in Kenya. The primary objective of this project is to evaluate the LAMP test for RVF and to expand our

knowledge about Rift Valley Fever (RVF) epidemiology in Kenya by expanding the ongoing Kenya veterinary

surveillance program to include wildlife species. There is a need to develop a quick non-tissue culture

dependent method for diagnosis of Rift Valley fever and this project evaluated a newly developed Reverse

transcriptase (RT)-PCR as a method for laboratory diagnosis of Rift Valley fever virus infection. The RT-PCR a

based test was compared to another newly developed LAMP PCR assay. In addition, evaluation of ELISA

based diagnostic tests was conducted but failed due to reagents being damaged in shipment. The data

generated was also used to improve the understanding of the epidemiology of RVF in Kenya.

Impacts

(N/A)

Publications

Keywords

rift valley fever rvf

veterinary diagnostic wildlife

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Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11

Outputs

Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) The primary objective of this project is to evaluate the LAMP test

for RVF and to expand our knowledge about Rift Valley fever (RVF) epidemiology in Kenya by expanding the

ongoing Kenya veterinary surveillance program to include wildlife species. Approach (from AD-416) The

ongoing veterinary surveillance will be expanded by the inclusion of wildlife sero-surveillance in Kenya. The

project will also evaluate the newly developed RVF LAMP diagnostic test developed by mutual FAO/IAEA

collaborators. KARI will archive veterinary surveillance samples collected and assayed using existing

diagnostic technology as part of their ongoing projects. The ABADRU has collected and stored serum and

tissue samples from wild rodents in Kenya at the end of the 2006-2007 RVF outbreak. This was accomplished

through a collaboration with USDA, APHIS, National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC), US Army Medical

Research Unit- Kenya (USAMRU-K) and Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). The ABADRU scientists

will work with KARI scientists in Kenyan facilities to gain experience with existing diagnostics, perform the

analysis of the wild rodent samples using current assays, and assist in the evaluation of the LAMP diagnostic

test. The ABADRU, KARI and mutually agreed upon collaborating scientists with the assistance of the USDA,

APHIS, Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health (CEAH) will consolidate the information generated in this

project with the existing data to initiate the development of a comprehensive epidemiological understanding

of RVF in Kenya. This project goal is to provide a better epidemiological understanding of RVF and the

importance of wildlife in disease maintenance as well as enhance development and evaluation of new

diagnostic technologies. A total of 986 serum samples were collected and analyzed from farms in Molo,

(where no outbreaks has ever been previously reported), Naivasha, (an RVF-endemic area and where the

first case of RVF was reported in Kenya), Kajiado, (where there had been reports of an RVF-like disease) and

Shompole, (a chief transmigratory livestock-route and market on the Kenya/Tanzania border). Of the total

sera tested, 16.94% (164/966), 8.42% (81/966) and 4.13% (39/966) were found to be positive by

IgG-sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), IgM-capture ELISA and serum neutralization

(SN) tests respectively. A total of 920 wildlife serum samples were obtained from Veterinary Laboratories in

Kabete, Kenya, 500 of which had been collected just before and during the latest outbreak while 420 samples

had been collected after the outbreak. A total of 113 rodent samples were received from CDC Kisumu and

analysis is ongoing. The serum samples were coded and stored in aliquots at -80oC.A field-trip was

conducted that demonstrated the ability to run the qRT-PCR assay in the field. These samples are archived

for future test evaluation and generate support for continued pursuance of rapid detection technology. This

research supports NP103 Action Plan Components 1. Biodefense Research and 3. Prevent and Control

Zoonotic Diseases. ADODR is directly involved in performance of the research and also monitors activities to

evaluate research progress through site visits, meeting at conferences and through email and phone calls.

Impacts

(N/A)

Publications

Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10

Outputs

Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) The primary objective of this project is to evaluate the LAMP test

for RVF and to expand our knowledge about Rift Valley fever (RVF) epidemiology in Kenya by expanding the

ongoing Kenya veterinary surveillance program to include wildlife species. Approach (from AD-416) The

ongoing veterinary surveillance will be expanded by the inclusion of wildlife sero-surveillance in Kenya. The

project will also evaluate the newly developed RVF LAMP diagnostic test developed by mutual FAO/IAEA

collaborators. KARI will archive veterinary surveillance samples collected and assayed using existing

diagnostic technology as part of their ongoing projects. The ABADRL has collected and stored serum and

tissue samples from wild rodents in Kenya at the end of the 2006-2007 RVF outbreak. This was accomplished

through a collaboration with USDA, APHIS, National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC), US Army Medical

Research Unit- Kenya (USAMRU-K) and Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). The ABADRL scientists will

work with KARI scientists in Kenyan facilities to gain experience with existing diagnostics, perform the

analysis of the wild rodent samples using current assays, and assist in the evaluation of the LAMP diagnostic

test. The ABADRL, KARI and mutually agreed upon collaborating scientists with the assistance of the USDA,

APHIS, Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health (CEAH) will consolidate the information generated in this

EXPANSION OF THE KENYAN RIFT VALLEY FEVER (RVF) VET... https://portal.nifa.usda.gov/web/crisprojectpages/0412497-expansion-of-...

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project with the existing data to initiate the development of a comprehensive epidemiological understanding

of RVF in Kenya. This project goal is to provide a better epidemiological understanding of RVF and the

importance of wildlife in disease maintenance as well as enhance development and evaluation of new

diagnostic technologies. Over 500 samples from sheep and goats were collected from farms in and around OlMagogo. All of these samples were tested with IgG ELISA (BDSL), 19. 75% were found to have antibodies. A

total of 200 samples were tested with the qPCR all were negative, though the positive control worked every

time. IgM and inhibition ELISA kits were not available due to the outbreak in South Africa, as soon as these

are available, all the samples will be tested with these as well. A �new� protocol for LAMP was provided by

IAEA and is being established in the lab currently. A total of 113 rodent samples were received from CDC

Kisumu and analysis is ongoing. A field-trip was conducted that resulted in the collection of collection of 600

field samples and demonstration that the qRT-PCR assay can be performed in the field will enhance future

test evaluation and generate support for continued pursuance of this technology. This research supports

NP103 Action Plan Components 1. Biodefense Research and 3. Prevent and Control Zoonotic Diseases.

ADODR is directly involved in performance of the research and also monitors activities to evaluate research

progress through site visits, meeting at conferences and through email and phone calls.

Impacts

(N/A)

Publications

Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/08

Outputs

Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416) The primary objective of this project is to evaluate the LAMP test

for RVF and to expand our knowledge about Rift Valley fever (RVF) epidemiology in Kenya by expanding the

ongoing Kenya veterinary surveillance program to include wildlife species. Approach (from AD-416) The

ongoing veterinary surveillance will be expanded by the inclusion of wildlife sero-surveillance in Kenya. The

project will also evaluate the newly developed RVF LAMP diagnostic test developed by mutual FAO/IAEA

collaborators. KARI will archive veterinary surveillance samples collected and assayed using existing

diagnostic technology as part of their ongoing projects. The ABADRL has collected and stored serum and

tissue samples from wild rodents in Kenya at the end of the 2006-2007 RVF outbreak. This was accomplished

through a collaboration with USDA, APHIS, National Wildlife Research Center (NWRC), US Army Medical

Research Unit- Kenya (USAMRU-K) and Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI). The ABADRL scientists will

work with KARI scientists in Kenyan facilities to gain experience with existing diagnostics, perform the

analysis of the wild rodent samples using current assays, and assist in the evaluation of the LAMP diagnostic

test. The ABADRL, KARI and mutually agreed upon collaborating scientists with the assistance of the USDA,

APHIS, Centers for Epidemiology and Animal Health (CEAH) will consolidate the information generated in this

project with the existing data to initiate the development of a comprehensive epidemiological understanding

of RVF in Kenya. Significant Activities that Support Special Target Populations This project was initiated to

provide a better epidemiological understanding of RVF and the importance of wildlife in disease maintenance

as well as enhance development and evaluation of new diagnostic technologies. A collection of 300 wildlife

sera have been collected and are currently being evaluated with existing RVF ELISA. In addition,

development of a Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification Protocol (LAMP) for RVF diagnosis has been

initiated. This research supports NP103 Action Plan Components 1. Biodefense Research and 3. Prevent and

Control Zoonotic Diseases. ADODR is directly involved in performance of the research and also monitors

activities to evaluate research progress through site visits, meeting at conferences and through email and

phone calls.

Impacts

(N/A)

Publications

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