African horse sickness (AHS), a highly fatal arbovirosis of equines is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. However, its epidemiology is poorly known in Cameroon. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence profile and risk factors of African horse sickness in Cameroon. Horse sera were subjected to the ELISA blocking test for the determination of antibodies against African horse sickness virus, and positive samples were submitted to capture ELISA to determine the presence of antigens. Potential risk factors associated with AHS were assessed based on the information collected in the field. The chi-square test and the odd ratio (OR) were used to test the association between serology and the different variables. Of the 336 sera obtained, 198 were positive for antibodies with a prevalence of 58.93% (CI: 53.67–64.19). From the 198 positive sera to antibodies, only one revealed positivity to antigens with a prevalence of 0.51% (CI: 0–1.5). Agroecological zone I (94.31%, CI: 91.83–96.79, OR: 34.92) was significantly ( p < 0.05 ) associated with the higher risk of disease dissemination than agroecological zone II (66.67%, CI: 61.63–71.71, OR: 4.21) and agroecological zone III (32.18%, CI: 27.18–37.18; OR: 1). Males (63.59%, CI: 58.44–68.74, OR: 1) were significantly ( p < 0.05 ) affected than females (50.42%, CI: 45.07–55.77; OR: 0.58). Horses of more than 8 years (76.00%, CI: 71.43–80.57) were significantly ( p < 0.05 ) at risk than young animals of less than 3 years old (32.14%, CI: 27.15–37.13, OR: 0.15). This study highlights a high seroprevalence of antibodies of African horse sickness in Cameroon. Agroecological zone, age, and the importation of horses were highly associated with the distribution of disease at the national level.

African Horse Sickness (AHS) is a non-contagious viral disease that is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa countries and poses an important production and health threats of equines. AHS can induce up to 95% mortality in horses and 10% in donkeys. However, there is dearth of information of its epidemiology in donkeys in Cameroon. This study was therefore carried out to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of AHS in donkey in three Northern regions of Cameroon. Donkey sera were subjected to the ELISA blocking test for the determination of antibodies against African Horse Sickness Virus (AHSV) and positive samples were subjected to Capture-ELISA to determine the presence of antigens. Spleen samples were collected from fifteen donkey carcasses, of unknown causes of death, were screened using capture ELISA and positive reactors confirmed using conventional PCR. Potential risk factors associated with AHS were assessed based on the information collected in the field. The Chi-Square test and the Odd ratio were used to test the association between prevalence and the different variables. Of the 266 sera obtained, 219 were positive for anti-AHS virus antibodies corresponding to a sero-prevalence of 82.33% [95%CI: 77.30 – 86.44] and no antigen detected from the corresponding whole blood. Locality (p<0.001, χ2= 22.96) and age (p<0.001, χ2= 24.31) significantly influenced sero-positivity of the donkeys. The sero-prevalence was higher (p<0.05) in the North (87.18% [95%CI: 81.03 – 91.55]) and Far North regions (84.81% [95%CI: 75.30 – 91.09]) than in the Adamawa region (51.61% [95%CI: 34.84 – 68.03]). Donkeys that were at least 3 years old (89.42% [95%CI: 84.22 – 93.05]) were at higher risk of AHS (p<0.0001, χ2 = 22.54, OR: 4.56 [95%CI: 2.36 – 8.82]) compared to young animals of less than 3 years old (32.14% [95%CI: 27.15-37.13, OR: 0.15]). The study highlights that AHS is highly endemic in all age groups and both sexes of donkey populations in Northern Cameroon and donkeys maybe playing important roles in the maintenance of the disease in equine populations in the country.