Serological evidence of Rift Valley fever infection and risk factors among one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Northern Nigeria

Abstract

43 Background: Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a zoonotic disease that has become emerging and re-44 emerging in some regions of the world, infecting livestock and humans. One-humped camels are 45 important economic livestock species in Africa used for traction, transportation, and food.46 Regional and international trade has continued to increase the risk of this disease, spreading 47 widely and causing severe economic and public health catastrophes in affected regions. In spite 48 of these risks, there is a dearth of information about the status of RVF in camels in Nigeria. This 3 49 study was carried out to determine the prevalence of the RVF virus in one-humped camels in 50 Nigeria and identify the risk factors associated with the disease.51 Methods: A cross-sectional study with simple random sampling was carried out in seven local 52 government areas of Jigawa and Katsina States. The sera from camels were tested for anti-RVFV 53 IgG. Camel owners were administered a structured questionnaire to ascertain their knowledge, 54 attitude, and practice. 55 Results: An overall prevalence of 19.9% (95% CI; 17.07-22.90) was recorded. Based on age 56 groups, the highest prevalence of 20.9% (95% CI; 17.00-25.31) was obtained among older 57 camels (6-10 years), while female camels recorded a high prevalence of 20.4% (95%CI; 15.71-58 25.80). Sule Tankar-kar recorded the highest prevalence with 33% (95%CI; 1.31-4.72, p= 0.007) 59 and OR 2.47 in Jigawa State while Mai'adua had 24.7% (95%CI; 0.97-2.73, p=0.030) with OR 60 1.62 in Katsina State respectively. From the risk map, local government areas bordering Niger 61 Republic were at a high risk of RVF. Only high rainfall was not significantly linked with RVF 62 occurrence among nomadic camel pastoralists (95%CI 0.93-5.20; p=0.070). 63Conclusion: There is a need for the country to have quarantine units across borders for 64 screening animals coming from neighbouring countries for transboundary infectious diseases 65 such as RVF. 66

Survey of antibodies to Rift Valley fever virus and associated risk factors in one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) slaughtered in Maiduguri abattoir, Borno State, Nigeria

“…The overall seroprevalence of 20.7% reported in this study was observed to be almost similar to the 19.9% reported in a recent study from the two northwestern states of Jigawa and Katsina in Nigeria (Musa et al, 2020). This may be because the two states share similar characteristics with Borno State since all the three states share international borders with other countries closer to the hotspots of the disease.…”

Mosquito-Associated Viruses and Their Related Mosquitoes in West Africa

“…It is likely that the first report of RVFV was in 1959 in Nigeria [ 126 ]. However, the latest RVFV case was detected in 2016 in Mali, Niger, and Nigeria [ 122 , 125 , 127 ], and this is the first occurrence of RVFV in Niger. RVFV was detected in culicine mosquitoes and serological investigations in humans, bats, livestock, horses, and camels.…”