FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Transbound Emerg Dis / Mapping the serological prevalence rate of West Nile fever i...
Transboundary and emerging diseases2013; 62(1); 55-66; doi: 10.1111/tbed.12077

Mapping the serological prevalence rate of West Nile fever in equids, Tunisia.

Abstract: West Nile fever (WNF) is a viral disease of wild birds transmitted by mosquitoes. Humans and equids can also be affected and suffer from meningoencephalitis. In Tunisia, two outbreaks of WNF occurred in humans in 1997 and 2003; sporadic cases were reported on several other years. Small-scale serological surveys revealed the presence of antibodies against WN virus (WNV) in equid sera. However, clinical cases were never reported in equids, although their population is abundant in Tunisia. This study was achieved to characterize the nationwide serological status of WNV in Tunisian equids. In total, 1189 sera were collected in 2009 during a cross-sectional survey. Sera were tested for IgG antibodies, using ELISA and microneutralization tests. The estimated overall seroprevalence rate was 28%, 95% confidence interval [22; 34]. The highest rates were observed (i) in the north-eastern governorates (Jendouba, 74%), (ii) on the eastern coast (Monastir, 64%) and (iii) in the lowlands of Chott El Jerid and Chott el Gharsa (Kebili, 58%; Tozeur, 52%). Environmental risk factors were assessed, including various indicators of wetlands, wild avifauna, night temperature and chlorophyllous activity (normalized difference vegetation index: NDVI). Multimodel inference showed that lower distance to ornithological sites and wetlands, lower night-time temperature, and higher NDVI in late spring and late fall were associated with higher serological prevalence rate. The model-predicted nationwide map of WNF seroprevalence rate in Tunisian equids highlighted different areas with high seroprevalence probability. These findings are discussed in the perspective of implementing a better WNF surveillance system in Tunisia. This system might rely on (i) a longitudinal survey of sentinel birds in high-risk areas and time periods for WNV transmission, (ii) investigations of bird die-offs and (iii) syndromic surveillance of equine meningoencephalitis.
© 2013 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2013-03-21 PubMed ID: 23906318DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12077Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research is about the study of the prevalence of West Nile fever, a mosquito-borne disease, among the equid populations in Tunisia. The study found a seroprevalence of 28% and identified environmental risk factors that contribute to the disease’s spread.

Research Objectives and Overview

  • The research aimed to investigate the prevalence of West Nile Fever (WNF) among the equid (horses, donkeys, etc.) population in Tunisia and to identify environmental factors contributing to the disease’s spread.
  • A total of 1189 equid sera were collected in 2009 during a nationwide cross-sectional survey.
  • The sera were tested for IgG antibodies, indicative of WNF, using ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and microneutralization tests.
  • This is the first study of its kind to elucidate the seroprevalence of West Nile Virus (WNV) specifically in the abundant but under-studied equid population of Tunisia.

Findings

  • The estimated overall seroprevalence, or the level of a pathogen in a population as measured in blood serum, of WNV in Tunisian equids was found to be 28%.
  • Regions in Tunisia with higher seroprevalence rates included northeastern governorates, the eastern coast, and the lowlands of Chott El Jerid and Chott El Gharsa.
  • Environmental risk factors for increased WNV seroprevalence were identified, various indicators of wetlands, wild bird fauna, cooler night temperatures, and increased vegetation index were correlated with the disease.
  • The researchers created a model-predicted map of WNV seroprevalence in Tunisian equids, highlighting areas of high seroprevalence.

Significance and Recommendations

  • The findings of this research are significant as they provide valuable data about WNV prevalence in a large host population and help researchers to understand how environmental factors influence disease transmission.
  • The research suggests a need for better WNF surveillance systems in Tunisia. Such systems could include ongoing monitoring of sentinel birds in high-risk areas, investigation of bird die-offs, and surveillance of equine meningoencephalitis as a syndromic marker of WNV activity.
  • The results might help authorities to plan and implement control measures against the disease more effectively.

Cite This Article

APA
Bargaoui R, Lecollinet S, Lancelot R. (2013). Mapping the serological prevalence rate of West Nile fever in equids, Tunisia. Transbound Emerg Dis, 62(1), 55-66. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.12077

Publication

Transboundary and emerging diseases
ISSN: 1865-1682
NlmUniqueID: 101319538
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 62
Issue: 1
Pages: 55-66

Researcher Affiliations

Bargaoui, R
  • Institut de la Recherche Vétérinaire de Tunisie (IRVT), Service de Virologie, Tunis, Tunisie.
Lecollinet, S
    Lancelot, R

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Cross-Sectional Studies
      • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary
      • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
      • Horse Diseases / blood
      • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
      • Horses
      • Humans
      • Immunoglobulin G / blood
      • Neutralization Tests
      • Risk Factors
      • Seasons
      • Seroepidemiologic Studies
      • Tunisia / epidemiology
      • West Nile Fever / blood
      • West Nile Fever / epidemiology
      • West Nile Fever / veterinary
      • West Nile virus / immunology

      Citations

      This article has been cited 24 times.
      1. M'ghirbi Y, Mousson L, Moutailler S, Lecollinet S, Amaral R, Beck C, Aounallah H, Amara M, Chabchoub A, Rhim A, Failloux AB, Bouattour A. West Nile, Sindbis and Usutu Viruses: Evidence of Circulation in Mosquitoes and Horses in Tunisia. Pathogens 2023 Feb 21;12(3).
        doi: 10.3390/pathogens12030360pubmed: 36986282google scholar: lookup
      2. García-Carrasco JM, Muñoz AR, Olivero J, Segura M, Real R. Mapping the Risk for West Nile Virus Transmission, Africa. Emerg Infect Dis 2022 Apr;28(4):777-785.
        doi: 10.3201/eid2804.211103pubmed: 35318911google scholar: lookup
      3. Olufemi OT, Barba M, Daly JM. A Scoping Review of West Nile Virus Seroprevalence Studies among African Equids. Pathogens 2021 Jul 15;10(7).
        doi: 10.3390/pathogens10070899pubmed: 34358049google scholar: lookup
      4. Câmara RJF, Bueno BL, Resende CF, Balasuriya UBR, Sakamoto SM, Reis JKPD. Viral Diseases that Affect Donkeys and Mules. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 25;10(12).
        doi: 10.3390/ani10122203pubmed: 33255568google scholar: lookup
      5. Chevalier V, Marsot M, Molia S, Rasamoelina H, Rakotondravao R, Pedrono M, Lowenski S, Durand B, Lecollinet S, Beck C. Serological Evidence of West Nile and Usutu Viruses Circulation in Domestic and Wild Birds in Wetlands of Mali and Madagascar in 2008. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 Mar 18;17(6).
        doi: 10.3390/ijerph17061998pubmed: 32197367google scholar: lookup
      6. Barba M, Fairbanks EL, Daly JM. Equine viral encephalitis: prevalence, impact, and management strategies. Vet Med (Auckl) 2019;10:99-110.
        doi: 10.2147/VMRR.S168227pubmed: 31497528google scholar: lookup
      7. Jourdain F, Samy AM, Hamidi A, Bouattour A, Alten B, Faraj C, Roiz D, Petrić D, Pérez-Ramírez E, Velo E, Günay F, Bosevska G, Salem I, Pajovic I, Marić J, Kanani K, Paronyan L, Dente MG, Picard M, Zgomba M, Sarih M, Haddad N, Gaidash O, Sukhiasvili R, Declich S, Shaibi T, Sulesco T, Harrat Z, Robert V. Towards harmonisation of entomological surveillance in the Mediterranean area. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 Jun;13(6):e0007314.
        doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007314pubmed: 31194743google scholar: lookup
      8. Eybpoosh S, Fazlalipour M, Baniasadi V, Pouriayevali MH, Sadeghi F, Ahmadi Vasmehjani A, Karbalaie Niya MH, Hewson R, Salehi-Vaziri M. Epidemiology of West Nile Virus in the Eastern Mediterranean region: A systematic review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2019 Jan;13(1):e0007081.
        doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007081pubmed: 30695031google scholar: lookup
      9. Lafri I, Hachid A, Bitam I. West Nile virus in Algeria: a comprehensive overview. New Microbes New Infect 2019 Jan;27:9-13.
        doi: 10.1016/j.nmni.2018.10.002pubmed: 30519477google scholar: lookup
      10. Monastiri A, Mechri B, Vázquez-González A, Ar Gouilh M, Chakroun M, Loussaief C, Mastouri M, Dimassi N, Boughzala L, Aouni M, Serra-Cobo J. A four-year survey (2011-2014) of West Nile virus infection in humans, mosquitoes and birds, including the 2012 meningoencephalitis outbreak in Tunisia. Emerg Microbes Infect 2018 Mar 14;7(1):28.
        doi: 10.1038/s41426-018-0028-ypubmed: 29535295google scholar: lookup
      11. Kardjadj M. Epidemiological situation of transboundary animal diseases in North African countries-proposition of a regional control strategy. Trop Anim Health Prod 2018 Mar;50(3):459-467.
        doi: 10.1007/s11250-017-1453-ypubmed: 29302776google scholar: lookup
      12. Ayadi T, Hammouda A, Poux A, Boulinier T, Lecollinet S, Selmi S. Evidence of exposure of laughing doves (Spilopelia senegalensis) to West Nile and Usutu viruses in southern Tunisian oases. Epidemiol Infect 2017 Oct;145(13):2808-2816.
        doi: 10.1017/S0950268817001789pubmed: 28803560google scholar: lookup
      13. Humphrey JM, Cleton NB, Reusken CB, Glesby MJ, Koopmans MP, Abu-Raddad LJ. Dengue in the Middle East and North Africa: A Systematic Review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016 Dec;10(12):e0005194.
        doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005194pubmed: 27926925google scholar: lookup
      14. Beck C, Desprès P, Paulous S, Vanhomwegen J, Lowenski S, Nowotny N, Durand B, Garnier A, Blaise-Boisseau S, Guitton E, Yamanaka T, Zientara S, Lecollinet S. A High-Performance Multiplex Immunoassay for Serodiagnosis of Flavivirus-Associated Neurological Diseases in Horses. Biomed Res Int 2015;2015:678084.
        doi: 10.1155/2015/678084pubmed: 26457301google scholar: lookup
      15. Hammouda A, Lecollinet S, Hamza F, Nasri I, Neb A, Selmi S. Exposure of resident sparrows to West Nile virus evidenced in South Tunisia. Epidemiol Infect 2015 Dec;143(16):3546-9.
        doi: 10.1017/S0950268814003860pubmed: 25994421google scholar: lookup
      16. Riabi S, Gaaloul I, Mastouri M, Hassine M, Aouni M. An outbreak of West Nile Virus infection in the region of Monastir, Tunisia, 2003. Pathog Glob Health 2014 Apr;108(3):148-57.
        doi: 10.1179/2047773214Y.0000000137pubmed: 24766339google scholar: lookup
      17. Chevalier V, Tran A, Durand B. Predictive modeling of West Nile virus transmission risk in the Mediterranean Basin: how far from landing?. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2013 Dec 20;11(1):67-90.
        doi: 10.3390/ijerph110100067pubmed: 24362544google scholar: lookup
      18. Fall AG, Diaïté A, Seck MT, Bouyer J, Lefrançois T, Vachiéry N, Aprelon R, Faye O, Konaté L, Lancelot R. West Nile virus transmission in sentinel chickens and potential mosquito vectors, Senegal River Delta, 2008-2009. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2013 Oct 1;10(10):4718-27.
        doi: 10.3390/ijerph10104718pubmed: 24084679google scholar: lookup
      19. Barhoumi W, Khedhiri M, M'Ghirbi Y, Bougatef S, Touzi H, Rhim A, Karray H, Trabelsi A, Mastouri M, Hannachi N, Bouattour A, Triki H, Ben Alaya NB, Fares W. Surveillance of West Nile Virus in Tunisia: Evidence from Human and Entomological Investigation. Viruses 2025 Nov 29;17(12).
        doi: 10.3390/v17121562pubmed: 41472233google scholar: lookup
      20. Badr C, Handous M, Nsiri J, ElBehi I, Arbi M, Maaroufi A, Bennour MA, Ben Osman R, Dachraoui K, Abbes M, Mahmoudi A, Khosrof I, Abrougui S, Lachheb J, Zhioua E, Larbi I. First report of West Nile virus infections in horses in Tunisia from 2018 to 2023. Virol J 2025 Oct 1;22(1):318.
        doi: 10.1186/s12985-025-02918-0pubmed: 41035042google scholar: lookup
      21. Ouni A, Aounallah H, Rebai WK, Llorente F, Chendoul W, Hammami W, Rhim A, Jiménez-Clavero MÁ, Pérez-Ramírez E, Bouattour A, M'Ghirbi Y. The Role of Ruminants as Sentinel Animals in the Circulation of the West Nile Virus in Tunisia. Pathogens 2025 Mar 8;14(3).
        doi: 10.3390/pathogens14030267pubmed: 40137752google scholar: lookup
      22. Rusenova N, Rusenov A, Chervenkov M, Sirakov I. Seroprevalence of West Nile Virus among Equids in Bulgaria in 2022 and Assessment of Some Risk Factors. Vet Sci 2024 May 9;11(5).
        doi: 10.3390/vetsci11050209pubmed: 38787181google scholar: lookup
      23. Schwarz ER, Long MT. Comparison of West Nile Virus Disease in Humans and Horses: Exploiting Similarities for Enhancing Syndromic Surveillance. Viruses 2023 May 24;15(6).
        doi: 10.3390/v15061230pubmed: 37376530google scholar: lookup
      24. Giesen C, Herrador Z, Fernandez-Martinez B, Figuerola J, Gangoso L, Vazquez A, Gómez-Barroso D. A systematic review of environmental factors related to WNV circulation in European and Mediterranean countries. One Health 2023 Jun;16:100478.
        doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2022.100478pubmed: 37363246google scholar: lookup
      Subscribe to our newsletter
      Join 99,034 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.