Evidence of West Nile virus in chickens and horses in Nigeria: results from a serosurvey.

This research paper investigates the prevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) in horses and chickens in Nigeria. It found the virus to be present in a significant proportion of the horse population and in a smaller percentage of domestic chickens, suggesting a widespread circulation of WNV in these animals and potential infection risk for humans.

Methodology

• The researchers conducted a cross-sectional study, involving 106 local horses in Kaduna and 78 domestic chickens in the Federal Capital Territory.
• Using the ID Screen® West Nile competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, they screened a total of 184 sera for West Nile virus anti-Pr‑E antibodies.

Results

• For the horses, an overall WNV prevalence of 92.45% was recorded.
• In contrast, domestic chickens had a WNV prevalence of 7.69%.
• The study unveiled a statistically significant difference in the occurrences of WNV in stallions compared to mares.

Interpretation

• The results indicate that horses in Nigeria are more likely to be infected by WNV than domestic chickens, with an odds ratio (OR) of 147.
• The detection of WNV antibodies in these animals signifies the widespread circulation of the virus.
• This inference suggests potential risk of infection for humans and other animals, as the virus is primarily transmitted through mosquito bites and these animals could serve as hosts.

Recommendations

• This study is the first to investigate the prevalence of WNV in domestic chickens in Nigeria.
• Given the identified presence and potential risk of this virus, there should be increased surveillance in both human and animal sectors to understand the epidemiological pattern of WNV infection in Nigeria.