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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis / Serological Survey of West Nile Virus in Domestic Animals fr...
Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.)2016; 16(5); 359-361; doi: 10.1089/vbz.2015.1881

Serological Survey of West Nile Virus in Domestic Animals from Northwest Senegal.

Abstract: In Africa, infection with West Nile virus (WNV) is frequent but almost always asymptomatic in humans and equids. The aim of this study was to identify whether any other domestic animal living in the same enzootic locality may be the sentinel of WNV circulation. In northwest Senegal, blood samples were collected from 283 adult domestic animals (136 sheep, 64 horses, 29 donkeys, 29 goats, 14 cattle, and 11 dogs), in three localities near Keur Momar Sarr. Each serum was tested for WNV immunoglobulin G using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The prevalence among donkeys, horses, dogs, goats, cattle, and sheep was 86.2%, 68.7%, 27.3%, 6.9%, 0%, and 0%, respectively. This survey confirms that equids and dogs could be the best sentinel animals for surveillance of WNV. The ruminants do not play a role in WNV epidemiology.
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Publication Date: 2016-03-22 PubMed ID: 27002305DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2015.1881Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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.

The research article investigates the prevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) in various domestic animals in northwest Senegal, to identify potential sentinel animals for surveillance of the virus. The study finds that equids (horses and donkeys) and dogs have the highest infection rates, suggesting they could be effective indicators of WNV presence.

Research Objective and Methodology

  • The aim of the article was to identify potential sentinel animals for West Nile Virus (WNV) surveillance in Northwest Senegal. Sentinel animals act as a warning mechanism, indicating the presence of a disease in a given area by testing positive for the virus.
  • To achieve this, the researchers collected blood samples from 283 adult domestic animals. The list of animals included horses, donkeys, dogs, goats, sheep, and cattle.
  • The blood samples were then screened for the presence of West Nile Virus immunoglobulin G (IgG) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ELISA is a test that checks for specific antibody responses in the blood and is commonly used in immunology.

Findings of the Study

  • The study found varying levels of WNV prevalence in the different animals. Donkeys and horses (both classified as equids) had the highest prevalence rates at 86.2% and 68.7% respectively.
  • Dogs also showed a considerable rate of infection at 27.3%. However, a lesser prevalence was seen in goats, being at only 6.9%. Meanwhile, no sheep or cattle tested positive for the virus.
  • The findings suggested that although infection with WNV is common in Africa, it is usually asymptomatic in humans and equids. This could explain the high prevalence of WNV in equids.

Implications of the Findings

  • Based on the results, the researchers affirmed that horses, donkeys, and dogs could provide the best sentinel surveillance for WNV due to high infection rates. Monitoring these animals for WNV could give early warning of the virus’s presence in localities near Keur Momar Sarr, northwest Senegal.
  • The research also brought to light that ruminants, like sheep and cattle, do not play a significant role in WNV epidemiology. They are unaffected by the virus, providing little to no information on the virus’s circulation in their vicinity.

Cite This Article

APA
Davoust B, Maquart M, Roqueplo C, Gravier P, Sambou M, Mediannikov O, Leparc-Goffart I. (2016). Serological Survey of West Nile Virus in Domestic Animals from Northwest Senegal. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis, 16(5), 359-361. https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2015.1881

Publication

Vector borne and zoonotic diseases (Larchmont, N.Y.)
ISSN: 1557-7759
NlmUniqueID: 100965525
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 16
Issue: 5
Pages: 359-361

Researcher Affiliations

Davoust, Bernard
  • 1 Research Unit of Emerging Infectious and Tropical Diseases (URMITE) UMR CNRS 7278 IRD 198 INSERM U1095 Aix-Marseille University , Marseille, France .
Maquart, Marianne
  • 2 French National Reference Centre for Arbovirus-Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Marseille , France .
Roqueplo, Cédric
  • 3 Animal Epidemiology Working Group of the Military Health Service , Toulon, France .
Gravier, Patrick
  • 2 French National Reference Centre for Arbovirus-Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Marseille , France .
Sambou, Masse
  • 4 Research Unit of Emerging Infectious and Tropical Diseases (URMITE - IRD 198) , Dakar, Senegal .
Mediannikov, Oleg
  • 4 Research Unit of Emerging Infectious and Tropical Diseases (URMITE - IRD 198) , Dakar, Senegal .
Leparc-Goffart, Isabelle
  • 2 French National Reference Centre for Arbovirus-Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Marseille , France .

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Domestic
  • Senegal / epidemiology
  • West Nile Fever / epidemiology
  • West Nile Fever / veterinary
  • West Nile Fever / virology
  • West Nile virus / isolation & purification

Citations

This article has been cited 12 times.
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