Wesselsbron virus antibody in domestic animals in Nigeria: retrospective and prospective studies.
Abstract: Retrospective and prospective serological surveys to determine the prevalence of Wesslsbron (WSL) virus infections in animal populations were carried out in different vegetational zones in Nigeria. Sera from 1,492 animals comprising 292 camels, 81 horses, 4 donkeys, 320 cattle, 235 sheep, 260 goats, 114 pigs, 101 dogs and 85 domestic fowls were assayed by haemagglutination-inhibition (HI) test for presence of antibodies to WSL virus and other flavivirus antigens: Yellow Fever (YF), Potiskum (POT), Banzi (BAN), Uganda S (UGS) and West Nile (WN) viruses. Four hundred and eighty one (32%) of the total sera tested were positive for the presence of flavivirus antibodies. The prevalence rates among animals varied with species and vegetational zones of the country. The highest prevalence was noted in animals from a swamp forest zone and was higher among camels, horses, donkeys and sheep when compared with goats, pigs and fowls in different zones. Although monotypic reactions with WSL virus antigen were observed in positive sera, the majority of the WSL virus positive sera cross-reacted with more than two other flavivirus antigens. Serological cross-reactions were most extensive in WSL virus positive horse sera. A ten month sentinel survey among 28 cattle, 68 sheep and 30 goats revealed considerable activity of WSL virus in Nigeria. Of these, 11 cattle and 12 sheep showed antibody conversion to WSL virus antigen. None of the goats seroconverted. Although, there are no records of outbreak of WSL disease in Nigeria, this study revealed that WSL virus is actively circulating among livestock populations in this environment. Flavivirus nucleotide data are needed for final determination of genetic relatedness in this group of viruses.
Publication Date: 1995-04-01 PubMed ID: 7603342
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research study investigates the prevalence of Wesselsbron virus (WSL) infections in various animal populations across different regions in Nigeria, using retrospective and prospective serological surveys.
Methodology
- The study collected sera from 1492 animals, which included diverse species like camels, horses, donkeys, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, dogs, and domestic fowls.
- This sera was then examined using the haemagglutination-inhibition test for detecting antibodies to WSL virus and other related flavivirus antigens.
- The flavivirus antigens targeted also included Yellow Fever, Potiskum, Banzi, Uganda S, and West Nile viruses.
Results and Findings
- Out of all tested samples, approximately 32% (481) showed the presence of flavivirus antibodies.
- The prevalence rates of antibodies varied according to the species and the vegetational zones of the country.
- Animals from swamp forest zones showed the highest prevalence. Camels, horses, donkeys, and sheep also showed a higher prevalence compared to goats, pigs, and fowls across different zones.
- Even though some samples showed monotypic reactions with WSL virus antigen, majority of the WSL positive cases cross-reacted with more than two other flavivirus antigens.
- WSL virus positive horse sera showed the most extensive serological cross-reactions.
Surveillance and Evidence of WSL Virus Activity
- A ten month sentinel surveillance was conducted on 28 cattle, 68 sheep and 30 goats which revealed considerable activity of WSL virus in Nigeria.
- Out of these animals, 11 cattle and 12 sheep displayed antibody conversion to WSL virus antigen, but none of the goats seroconverted.
- Despite no historical reports of a WSL disease outbreak in Nigeria, this study showcases that the WSL virus is actively circulating amongst livestock populations in Nigeria.
- However, for final determination of genetic relatedness among this group of viruses, flavivirus nucleotide data is required.
Cite This Article
APA
Baba SS, Fagbami AH, Ojeh CK, Olaleye OD, Omilabu SA.
(1995).
Wesselsbron virus antibody in domestic animals in Nigeria: retrospective and prospective studies.
New Microbiol, 18(2), 151-162.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Domestic / immunology
- Antibodies, Viral / blood
- Antigens, Viral / immunology
- Cross Reactions
- Flavivirus / immunology
- Flavivirus Infections / epidemiology
- Flavivirus Infections / immunology
- Flavivirus Infections / veterinary
- Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests
- Nigeria / epidemiology
- Prospective Studies
- Retrospective Studies
- Sentinel Surveillance / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Faye M, Seye T, Patel P, Diagne CT, Diagne MM, Dia M, Thiaw FD, Sall AA, Faye O. Development of Real-Time Molecular Assays for the Detection of Wesselsbron Virus in Africa. Microorganisms 2022 Mar 3;10(3).
- Glud HA, George S, Skovgaard K, Larsen LE. Zoonotic and reverse zoonotic transmission of viruses between humans and pigs. APMIS 2021 Dec;129(12):675-693.
- 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.
- Johnson N, Voller K, Phipps LP, Mansfield K, Fooks AR. Rapid molecular detection methods for arboviruses of livestock of importance to northern Europe. J Biomed Biotechnol 2012;2012:719402.
- Zimoch M, Grau-Roma L, Liniger M, Donzé N, Godel A, Escribano D, Trüeb BS, Pramateftaki P, Torres-Puig S, Cerón JJ, Thiel V, Jores J, Summerfield A, Ruggli N, Benarafa C, García-Nicolás O. Mosquito-independent milk-associated transmission of zoonotic Wesselsbron virus in sheep. PLoS Pathog 2024 Dec;20(12):e1012751.
- Faye M, Di Paola N, Dia M, Sall AA, Faye O. Molecular epidemiology and pathogenicity of Wesselsbron virus circulating in Africa. Virus Res 2024 Dec;350:199499.
- Eibner GJ, Graff SL, Hieke C, Ochieng JR, Kopp A, Drosten C, Lutwama J, Rwego IB, Junglen S. Genotypic and phylogeographic insights into a pre-epidemic variant of Wesselsbron virus detected in sylvatic Aedes mcintoshi from Semuliki Forest, Uganda. Microbiol Spectr 2024 Nov 12;12(12):e0091424.
- Nelson AN, Ploss A. Emerging mosquito-borne flaviviruses. mBio 2024 Dec 11;15(12):e0294624.
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