Seroprevalence of Rift Valley fever and associated risk factors in livestock of Afar Region, northeastern Ethiopia

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is one of the emerging arthropod-borne zoonotic viral diseases with serious public and economic significance in the livestock and human populations of East Africa. Its epidemiology is inadequately recognized in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate th...

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Main Authors: Jemberu A. Megenas, Mengistu L. Dadi, Tesfu K. Mekonnen, James W. Larrick, Gezahegne M. Kassa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-01-01
Series:Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000463
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author Jemberu A. Megenas
Mengistu L. Dadi
Tesfu K. Mekonnen
James W. Larrick
Gezahegne M. Kassa
author_facet Jemberu A. Megenas
Mengistu L. Dadi
Tesfu K. Mekonnen
James W. Larrick
Gezahegne M. Kassa
author_sort Jemberu A. Megenas
collection DOAJ
description Rift Valley fever (RVF) is one of the emerging arthropod-borne zoonotic viral diseases with serious public and economic significance in the livestock and human populations of East Africa. Its epidemiology is inadequately recognized in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence and potential risk factors of RVF in domestic livestock of Amibara and Haruka districts of the Afar Region, northeastern Ethiopia. A total of 736 (224 cattle, 121 goats, 144 sheep, 155 camels and 92 donkeys) blood samples were collected, and serum extracted and tested using competitive ELISA. A questionnaire survey was used to assess potential risk factors of RVF infection. The overall seroprevalence was 22.0% (162/736; 95% CI: 19.41–24.79%). The seroprevalence was significantly higher in goats (42.2%, 95% CI: 39.61–44.99%) compared to that of cattle (14.3%, 95% CI: 11.74–17.09%), sheep (21.5%, 95% CI: 18.91–24.29%), or camels (30.97%, 95% CI: 28.38–33.76%) (P < 0.001). The study showed that seropositivity for IgG antibody to RVFV infection was associated with locality and species of animal. Goats were two times more likely to be seropositive for RVFV infection than cattle (OR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.462–3.574, P = 0.001). Livestock in the Kealatburi area were five times more likely to be seropositive for RVFV infection than those in the Halidegei area (OR: 5.074, 95% CI: 3.066–8.396, P = 0.001). This study revealed that RVF is an important animal health problem in the Afar Region. Therefore, monitoring of RVF in animals, humans, and vectors along with community sensitization of high-risk populations could benefit mitigating the risk posed by the disease. Quarantine measures should be implemented to reduce the risk of RVFV introduction and dissemination among susceptible animals and ultimately transmission to humans.
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spelling doaj-art-6080f88bf3e241c0add9ab4ec1728e572024-11-30T07:14:31ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases2667-114X2024-01-016100215Seroprevalence of Rift Valley fever and associated risk factors in livestock of Afar Region, northeastern EthiopiaJemberu A. Megenas0Mengistu L. Dadi1Tesfu K. Mekonnen2James W. Larrick3Gezahegne M. Kassa4College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Bishoftu, Ethiopia; College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gambella University, Gambella, Ethiopia; Corresponding author. College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Bishoftu, Ethiopia.Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaAklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaPanorama Research Institute, 1230 Bordeaux Drive, Sunnyvale, CA, 94089, USA1College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gambella University, Gambella, EthiopiaRift Valley fever (RVF) is one of the emerging arthropod-borne zoonotic viral diseases with serious public and economic significance in the livestock and human populations of East Africa. Its epidemiology is inadequately recognized in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence and potential risk factors of RVF in domestic livestock of Amibara and Haruka districts of the Afar Region, northeastern Ethiopia. A total of 736 (224 cattle, 121 goats, 144 sheep, 155 camels and 92 donkeys) blood samples were collected, and serum extracted and tested using competitive ELISA. A questionnaire survey was used to assess potential risk factors of RVF infection. The overall seroprevalence was 22.0% (162/736; 95% CI: 19.41–24.79%). The seroprevalence was significantly higher in goats (42.2%, 95% CI: 39.61–44.99%) compared to that of cattle (14.3%, 95% CI: 11.74–17.09%), sheep (21.5%, 95% CI: 18.91–24.29%), or camels (30.97%, 95% CI: 28.38–33.76%) (P < 0.001). The study showed that seropositivity for IgG antibody to RVFV infection was associated with locality and species of animal. Goats were two times more likely to be seropositive for RVFV infection than cattle (OR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.462–3.574, P = 0.001). Livestock in the Kealatburi area were five times more likely to be seropositive for RVFV infection than those in the Halidegei area (OR: 5.074, 95% CI: 3.066–8.396, P = 0.001). This study revealed that RVF is an important animal health problem in the Afar Region. Therefore, monitoring of RVF in animals, humans, and vectors along with community sensitization of high-risk populations could benefit mitigating the risk posed by the disease. Quarantine measures should be implemented to reduce the risk of RVFV introduction and dissemination among susceptible animals and ultimately transmission to humans.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000463Rift Valley fever virusLivestockRisk factorsSeroprevalenceEthiopia
spellingShingle Jemberu A. Megenas
Mengistu L. Dadi
Tesfu K. Mekonnen
James W. Larrick
Gezahegne M. Kassa
Seroprevalence of Rift Valley fever and associated risk factors in livestock of Afar Region, northeastern Ethiopia
Current Research in Parasitology and Vector-Borne Diseases
Rift Valley fever virus
Livestock
Risk factors
Seroprevalence
Ethiopia
title Seroprevalence of Rift Valley fever and associated risk factors in livestock of Afar Region, northeastern Ethiopia
title_full Seroprevalence of Rift Valley fever and associated risk factors in livestock of Afar Region, northeastern Ethiopia
title_fullStr Seroprevalence of Rift Valley fever and associated risk factors in livestock of Afar Region, northeastern Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Seroprevalence of Rift Valley fever and associated risk factors in livestock of Afar Region, northeastern Ethiopia
title_short Seroprevalence of Rift Valley fever and associated risk factors in livestock of Afar Region, northeastern Ethiopia
title_sort seroprevalence of rift valley fever and associated risk factors in livestock of afar region northeastern ethiopia
topic Rift Valley fever virus
Livestock
Risk factors
Seroprevalence
Ethiopia
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667114X24000463
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