Haemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies against African horse sickness virus in domestic animals in Nigeria.
Abstract: A sero-epidemiological survey of African horse sickness (AHS) virus in 261 animals which included 96 camels, 81 horses, 80 dogs and 4 donkeys was carried out in Nigeria. The animals had no history of vaccination against AHS. Sera were tested by the haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test for the presence of antibody against AHS virus. Of these, 77 (95.1%) horse, 4 (100%) donkey, 10 (10.4%) camel and 28 (35%) dog sera samples tested were recorded as positive. The prevalence of antibody in samples taken from horses in different regions was similar. The prevalence of antibody to AHS virus detected in camels and dogs suggests that these animals are possible reservoirs of the virus. This may have an influence upon the epidemiology of the disease in Africa as a whole.
Publication Date: 1993-01-01 PubMed ID: 8111431
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research is a survey of the prevalence of the African horse sickness virus in domestic animals in Nigeria, focusing on horses, camels, dogs, and donkeys. The findings suggest horses, and potentially camels and dogs, could serve as reservoirs for the virus.
Research Methodology
- The study involves conducting a sero-epidemiological survey—an approach that measures the occurrence of a disease in a population by detecting the prevalence of specific antibodies in the blood serum of that population.
- The survey covered 261 animals in Nigeria, comprising 96 camels, 81 horses, 80 dogs, and 4 donkeys. It’s important to note that none of these animals had a recorded history of vaccination against African horse sickness (AHS).
- The researchers used the haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test as the mechanism to identify the presence of antibodies against the AHS virus. The HI test measures the ability of an antibody to block viruses from clumping red blood cells together—a clear sign of an active viral infection.
Key Findings
- In horses, 77 out of 81 samples (or 95.1%) tested positive for AHS antibodies.
- All four samples from donkeys tested positive for these antibodies.
- Among camels, only 10 out of the 96 samples (or 10.4%) tested positive.
- Lastly, 28 out of 80 dog samples (that’s 35%) tested positive.
- The prevalence of AHS antibodies in horses did not vary significantly between the different regions sampled in this study.
Research Implications
- The most significant finding here is that antibodies against the AHS virus were found in animals other than horses and donkeys, suggesting that the virus reservoir extends beyond just these species. In particular, camels and dogs tested positive for antibodies, indicating that they had been exposed to the virus and may carry it.
- These findings have implications for how African horse sickness is managed across Africa. More comprehensive disease control measures might be needed, including potentially the vaccination of animals beyond just horses and donkeys.
Cite This Article
APA
Baba SS, Olaleye OD, Ayanbadejo OA.
(1993).
Haemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies against African horse sickness virus in domestic animals in Nigeria.
Vet Res, 24(6), 483-487.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Maiduguri, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
MeSH Terms
- African Horse Sickness / epidemiology
- African Horse Sickness Virus / immunology
- Animals
- Animals, Domestic
- Antibodies, Viral / blood
- Camelus
- Disease Reservoirs
- Dog Diseases / epidemiology
- Dogs
- Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests
- Horses
- Nigeria / epidemiology
- Perissodactyla
- Prevalence
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Chinyere CN, Ajaebili AC, Peter-Ajuzie IK, Galadima HB, Daodu OB, Fatola OI, Okolo CC, Alaba BA, Akinniyi OO, Omoniwa DO, Edeh ER, Olorunfemi AB, Olayinka TA, Ojurongbe O, Oluwayelu DO, Muhammad AB, Abubakar MB, Meseko CA, Happi AN, Happi CT, Bakarey AS, Groschup MH, Olopade JO. Prevalence of African Horse Sickness Virus Antibodies in Horses and Selected Wildlife in Four Geographical Regions of Nigeria. Vet Med Int 2025;2025:4106678.
- Nelson E, Thurston W, Pearce-Kelly P, Jenkins H, Cameron M, Carpenter S, Guthrie A, England M. A Qualitative Risk Assessment for Bluetongue Disease and African Horse Sickness: The Risk of Entry and Exposure at a UK Zoo. Viruses 2022 Feb 28;14(3).
- Agboli E, Zahouli JBZ, Badolo A, Jöst H. Mosquito-Associated Viruses and Their Related Mosquitoes in West Africa. Viruses 2021 May 12;13(5).
- Devaux CA, Osman IO, Million M, Raoult D. Coxiella burnetii in Dromedary Camels (Camelus dromedarius): A Possible Threat for Humans and Livestock in North Africa and the Near and Middle East?. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:558481.
- Oluwayelu D, Adebiyi A, Tomori O. Endemic and emerging arboviral diseases of livestock in Nigeria: a review. Parasit Vectors 2018 Jun 7;11(1):337.
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