Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of pox infection among sheep and goats in selected districts of Afar region, Ethiopia.

Sheep and goat pox virus infection is highly devastating viral disease of small ruminants that cause severe production losses in sheep and goats in Ethiopia and also limits international trade. A cross-sectional study was employed with the objective to estimate the seroprevalence of pox infection and to assess associated risk factors during the study period, February to April, 2020. A total of 384 serum samples were collected from apparently healthy sheep and goats. Serum neutralization test was used to detect the presence of antibodies against pox virus at national veterinary institute. Descriptive statistics, univariable and Multivariable logistic analyses were used in this study. The overall animal level seroprevalence of sheep and goat pox virus was found to be 15.36% (n = 59/384) and species level prevalence rate was found to be 14.5% (n = 16/110) in sheep and 15.69% (n = 43/274) in goats in the study areas. Among the associated factors considered in this study, sex (P = 0.010), age (P = 0.012) and herd size (P = 0.029) were found to be statistically associated with seropositivity of pox infection in multivariable logistic regression. The odds of seropositivity in female animals were 3.9 times more likely to develop pox infection than male animals (AOR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.203-4.015%) and the odds of young animals were 2.14 times more likely to be seropositive to pox infection than old aged animals (AOR = 2.14; 95% CI = 1.169-3.633%). Moreover, the odds of large-sized flocks of animals were 3.10 times more likely to be seropositive to pox disease than small-sized flocks (AOR = 3.10; 95% CI = 1.30-4.42%). This study finding revealed that sheep and goat pox virus is prevalent and widespread diseases of small ruminant in afar region. Therefore, further study should be carried out to estimate region wise magnitude of the disease and control measures should be put in place to minimize the economic losses associated with this disease.

Dubie T ，Dagnew B ，Hamid M ，Bizuayehu F ，Fentahun G ... -  《Heliyon》

Seroprevalence and risk factors of sheep and goat pox virus in selected districts of Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

Sheep and goat pox (SGP) virus infection is a highly fatal viral infection of small ruminants that causes major production losses in sheep and goats in Ethiopia while also limiting international trade. This study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of SGP infection and assess related risk variables. A cross-sectional study was conducted from February to August 2023 on 384 serum samples taken from sheep and goats. A serum neutralization test was conducted to detect the presence of antibodies against the SGP virus in Wolaita Sodo Regional Laboratory. The overall seroprevalence rate of SGP was 4.95%. Factors such as sheep (8.26%), female sheep and goats (7.45%), older sheep and goats (8.33%), larger flock size of sheep and goats (10.47%), poorly conditioned sheep and goats (31.58%), sheep and goats with a tick on their skin (10.38%), and animals that had not been vaccinated (5.17%) were found to have higher seroprevalence. Furthermore, the seropositivity in sheep was five times greater than in goats (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 4.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-15.99). Additionally, large-sized flocks of sheep and goats were more likely to be seropositive to pox disease than small-sized flocks (AOR, 6.73; 95% CI, 1.58-28.67). Thus, the study revealed the prevalence of SGP in the Wolaita zone. Additional research should be conducted to estimate the extent of the disease at the regional level, and management measures should be implemented to reduce the economic losses associated with this condition.

Kassa F ，Fesseha H ，Mathewos M ，Getachew S ，Hundessa N ，Aliye S ，Asefa Kebede I ... -  《-》

Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of peste des petits ruminants among ovine and caprine in selected districts of Afar region, Ethiopia.

A Peste des petits ruminant is an acute, highly contagious and economically important transboundary viral disease of small ruminants. Despite the fact that food and agriculture organization and world organization for animal health plan to eradicate the disease by 2030, some studies indicated an increasing seropositivity of PPR infection in sheep and goats in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was employed to estimate the seroprevalence of PPR and to assess risk factors during the study period, February to April, 2020. Following purposive selection of the study districts, simple random sampling technique was employed to select individual animal during sample collection. A total of 384 serum samples were collected from apparently healthy sheep and goats. Competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay was used to detect the presence of antibodies against PPR at national veterinary institute. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square (X2) and logistic regression analysis were used is this study. The overall animal level seroprevalence of PPR virus was found to be 60.15% (n = 231/384) and species level prevalence rate was found to be 38.18% (n = 42) in sheep and 68.98% (n = 189) in goats in the study areas. Among the associated risk factors considered; species, sex, age and herd sizes were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with the disease occurrence. Among the associated risk factors considered in this study, species, sex, age and herd size were found to be statistically associated with the seropositivity of PPR infection. The present study finding revealed that a higher seroprevalence of PPR virus infection and this confirms peste des petits ruminant virus is circulating in Afar region. Further studies should be carried out on the entire region to determine PPR seroprevalence and to develop appropriate control and eradication strategies of PPR disease.

Dubie T ，Dagnew B ，Gelo E ，Negash W ，Hussein F ，Woldehana M ... -  《BMC Veterinary Research》

Sero-prevalence, risk factors and distribution of sheep and goat pox in Amhara Region, Ethiopia.

Fentie T ，Fenta N ，Leta S ，Molla W ，Ayele B ，Teshome Y ，Nigatu S ，Assefa A ... -  《BMC Veterinary Research》

Epidemiology of bluetongue virus infection among small ruminants in Turkey: Seroprevalence and associated risk factors.

Bluetongue (BT) is an endemic disease of small ruminants in Turkey, and it has substantial socio-economic impact at national level. To reduce this impact, vaccination has been used for the control of BT but sporadic outbreaks have been reported. Although sheep and goat farming plays an important role in rural communities, little is known about the BT epidemiological situation in small ruminants in Turkey. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of the bluetongue virus (BTV) and to identify the potential risk factors associated with BTV seropositivity in small ruminants. This study was conducted in the Antalya Province in the Mediterranean region of Turkey, from June 2018 to June 2019. A total of 1026 blood samples, from clinically healthy goats (n = 517) and sheep (n = 509), obtained from randomly selected unvaccinated flocks (n = 100) were tested for BTV anti-VP7 antibodies by using a competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay test. A questionnaire was administered to the flock owners to obtain data related to sampled flocks and animals. At the animal level, the true prevalence of BTV antibodies was 74.2% (n = 651/1026, 95% CI = 70.7-77.7) with 85.3% (n = 370/509, 95% CI = 80.6-89.9) seropositive sheep and 63.3% (n = 281/517, 95% CI = 58.2-68.4) seropositive goats. The true flock-level seroprevalence of BTV was higher in goats (100.0%, 95% CI = 92.8-100.0) than in sheep (98.8%, 95% CI = 86.6-100.0). The intra-flock seroprevalence within seropositive flocks varied between 36.4% and 100%, with a mean value of 85.5% and 61.9% in sheep and goat flocks, respectively. The logistic regression model revealed that odds of seropositivity for sheep were significantly higher in female animals (OR: 1.8, 95% CI = 1.1-2.9), animals older than 24 months old (OR: 5.8, 95% CI = 3.1-10.8), Pirlak breed (OR: 3.3, 95% CI = 1.1-10.0) and Merino breed (OR: 4.9, 95% CI = 1.6-14.9), whereas for goats, it was higher in female animals (OR: 1.7, 95% CI = 1.0-2.6), animals older than 24 months old (OR: 4.2, 95% CI = 2.7-6.6) and Hair breed (OR: 5.6, 95% CI = 2.8-10.9). The use of insecticides was identified as a protective factor. The present study revealed that BTV infection is widespread in sheep and goats in the Antalya Province. It is recommended to implement biosecurity measures in flocks and use insecticides to mitigate the spread of infection and contact between hosts and vectors.

Şevik M 《-》