Prevalence of equine viral arteritis in Algeria.

The research article outlines a study conducted to understand the prevalence of equine viral arteritis, a horse disease, in Algeria. The study used serological analysis of horse sera collected between 2009 and 2011 and found that a significant proportion of horses were seropositive for the virus, especially in the western region and among older horses.

Methodology

• The study involved the collection of 268 sera from non-vaccinated horses across the eastern and western regions of Algeria.
• The time-frame of the collection spanned from 2009 to 2011.
• The researchers used the virus neutralisation test, a method recommended by the World Organisation for Animal Health, to analyse the collected sera.

Findings

• Out of the 268 sera, 20 (or 7.46%) tested seropositive for Equine arteritis virus (EAV). This means that these samples showed a presence of antibodies produced in response to the virus, thereby indicating a past or present infection.
• 152 samples (or 56.71%) tested negative for EAV, while 96 (or 35.82%) showed cytotoxic results. Cytotoxicity typically refers to the quality of being toxic to cells, but the details of what this means in the context of the test used are not provided in the abstract.
• The study found a higher seroprevalence of EAV in the western region (Tiaret) compared to the eastern region (Barika and El-Eulma).
• It was also discovered that horses over 16 years old showed a seroprevalence rate of 20% for EAV.

Significance of the study

• This study did not find any correlation between the prevalence of EAV and the horse breed or gender.
• This research is important as it is the first to describe the circulation of EAV in the Algerian horse population.