FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
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.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2016-03-22 PubMed ID: 27002305DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2015.1881Google 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
  • 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.
  1. Mencattelli G, Ndione MHD, Rosà R, Marini G, Diagne CT, Diagne MM, Fall G, Faye O, Diallo M, Faye O, Savini G, Rizzoli A. Epidemiology of West Nile virus in Africa: An underestimated threat. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022 Jan;16(1):e0010075.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010075pubmed: 35007285google scholar: lookup
  2. Selim A, Megahed A, Kandeel S, Alouffi A, Almutairi MM. West Nile virus seroprevalence and associated risk factors among horses in Egypt. Sci Rep 2021 Oct 22;11(1):20932.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-00449-6pubmed: 34686730google scholar: lookup
  3. Yıldırım Y, Yılmaz V, Yazıcı K, Öziç C, Ozkul A, Çağırgan AA. Phylogenetic analysis of West Nile virus: first report of lineage 1 in donkey in Turkey. Trop Anim Health Prod 2021 Sep 18;53(5):453.
    doi: 10.1007/s11250-021-02892-zpubmed: 34536145google scholar: lookup
  4. 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
  5. Davoust B, Watier-Grillot S, Roqueplo C, Raoult D, Mediannikov O. Detection of zoonotic pathogens in animals performed at the University Hospital Institute Méditerranée Infection (Marseille - France). One Health 2021 Jun;12:100210.
    doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2020.100210pubmed: 33437857google scholar: lookup
  6. 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
  7. Asebe G, Mamo G, Michlmayr D, Abegaz WE, Endale A, Medhin G, Larrick JW, Legesse M. Seroprevalence of Rift Valley Fever and West Nile Fever in Cattle in Gambella Region, South West Ethiopia. Vet Med (Auckl) 2020;11:119-130.
    doi: 10.2147/VMRR.S278867pubmed: 33244452google 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. Pradines B, Rogier C. Contribution of the French army health service in support of expertise and research in infectiology in Africa. New Microbes New Infect 2018 Nov;26:S78-S82.
    doi: 10.1016/j.nmni.2018.05.008pubmed: 30402247google scholar: lookup
  10. Yasri S, Wiwanitkit V. Non-human Hosts and Zika Virus Maintenance. Ecohealth 2017 Jun;14(2):200-202.
    doi: 10.1007/s10393-017-1246-9pubmed: 28536757google scholar: lookup
  11. 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
  12. Megenas JA, Dadi ML, Mekonnen TK, Larrick JW, Kassa GM. Seroprevalence of West Nile Fever and Associated Risk Factors in Livestock of Afar Region, Northeast Ethiopia. Vet Sci 2025 Feb 8;12(2).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci12020141pubmed: 40005901google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 100,127 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.