Risk based serological survey of Rift Valley fever in Tunisia (2017–2018)

Abstract

Rift Valley fever (RVF) has been reported in the sub-Saharan region of Africa, Egypt and Arabian Peninsula - Yemen and Saudi Arabia, over the past 20 years and is a threat to both the animal and human populations in Tunisia. Tunisia is considered as a high-risk country for the introduction of RVF due to the informal movements of diseased animals already reported in the neighboring countries. The objective of this study was to assess the status of RVF in small ruminants and camels in Tunisia. A risk-based serological survey was conducted to evaluate the presence of RVF based on spatial qualitative risk analysis (SQRA). Samples were collected from small ruminants (sheep and goats) (n = 1,114), and camels (n = 173) samples, belonging to 18 breeders in 14 governorates between November 2017 and January 2018. Samples were tested using an RVF specific multispecies competitive ELISA. Out of the 1,287 samples tested for the presence of RVF IgG antibodies by ELISA, only one positive sample 0.07% (1/1 287) was detected but not confirmed with the virus neutralization test (VNT) used for confirmation. So far, no RVF outbreaks have been reported in Tunisia and our study confirmed the absence of RVF in livestock up to January 2018. Further investigations are needed to confirm the RVF-free status of Tunisia today.

Exposure to multiple pathogens - serological evidence for Rift Valley fever virus, Coxiella burnetii, Bluetongue virus and Brucella spp. in cattle, sheep and goat in Mali

“…The increase in the prevalence in cattle and the reporting of human cases of RVFV infection in Malians in 2016 [ 22 ] indicates the need to keep this disease under closer surveillance in the future. Therefore, a high-performance surveillance system is required for early detection of RVF outbreaks to avoid the economic losses and possible zoonotic infection of human that can result from emergence of the disease [ 23 ]. Such surveillance system should be risk-based, for example during times when RVF is likely to occur because of presence of the vector.…”

Risk‐based serological survey of bluetongue and the first evidence of bluetongue virus serotype 26 circulation in Tunisia

“…The presence of BTV‐26 in the governorate of Medenine is in favour of its introduction into Tunisia from Libya. In fact, uncontrolled animal movements between Tunisia and Libya could facilitate the introduction of emerging serotypes and other diseases (Bouguedour & Ripani, 2016; Kalthoum et al., 2021). The circulation of BTV‐26 in the centre (Gafsa, Kairouan, Sousse and Sfax governorates) and in northern Tunisia (Bizerte governorate) could be explained by its spread via animal movement in livestock markets (Baccar et al., 2018).…”

“…Tunisia is subdivided into 24 governorates (administrative units) that are further divided into 2084 sectors (Figure 1). This study was conducted in 67 sectors randomly selected from the 2084 sectors in Tunisia, which were classified into four risk classes (negligible, low, high and very high risk areas) for exposure to BTV using a qualitative risk assessment method based on SQRA methodology (Kalthoum et al., 2021; Squarzoni‐Diaw et al., 2020).…”

Análise de doenças de notificação obrigatória em animais de produção no período de 2018 a 2022: uma revisão sistemática

“…Por esses resultados, os autores destacaram que os bovinos foram representativamente mais infectados do que os pequenos ruminantes. Barry, et al (2022) Kalthoum, et al (2021) realizaram estudo pioneiro com inquérito sorológico transversal em áreas consideradas de alto e muito alto risco para a introdução de RVF como forma de investigar a circulação da doença nas populações de pequenos ruminantes e camelos na Tunísia. Para isso, 1.287 amostras foram testadas para a presença de anticorpos RVF.…”