Seroprevalence of brucellosis, Q fever and Rift Valley fever in domestic ruminants in Guinea in 2017-2019.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Brucellosis, Q fever and Rift Valley fever are considered as Neglected Zoonotic Diseases (NZDs) leading to socioeconomic losses in livestock globally, and particularly in developing countries of Africa where they are under-reported. In this study, we evaluated the seroprevalence of these 3 zoonotic diseases in domestic ruminants in Guinea from 2017 to 2019. A total of 1357 sera, sampled from 463 cattle, 408 goats and 486 sheep, were collected in 17 Guinean prefectures and analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS:

Cattle was the species with highest seroprevalence (5 to 20-fold higher than in small ruminants) for the three diseases. The seroprevalence of brucellosis, mostly focused in Western Guinea, was 11.0% (51 of 463) in cattle, 0.4% (2 in 486) in sheep while no specific antibodies were found in goats. Q fever, widespread across the country, was the most frequently detected zoonosis with a mean seroprevalence of 20.5% (95 in 463), 4.4% (18 in 408) and 2.3% (11 in 486) in cattle, goats and sheep, respectively. The mean seroprevalence of RVF was 16.4% (76 in 463) in cattle, 1.0% (4 in 408) in goats and 1.0% (5 in 486) in sheep. Among the samples 19.3% were seropositive for at least one of the three NZDs, 2.5% showed specific antibodies against at least two pathogens and 4 cattle (0.8%) were seropositive for all three pathogens. In cattle, adults over 3-years old and females presented a higher antibody seroprevalence for the three diseases, in congruence with putative exposure risk.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study confirms the circulation of these three zoonotic pathogens in Guinea and highlights the need for implementing a syndromic surveillance of ruminant abortions by the Guinean veterinary authorities as well as for the screening of the human population at risk (veterinarians, breeders, slaughterers) in a One Health perspective.

• Authors: Cécile Troupin, Isabelle Ellis, Bakary Doukouré, Alimou Camara, Moustapha Keita, Moise Kagbadouno, Jean-Mathieu Bart, Ramadan Diallo, Sandra Lacôte, Philippe Marianneau, Martin H Groschup, Noël Tordo
• Journal: BMC veterinary research (BMC Vet Res) Vol. 18 Issue 1 Pg. 64 (Feb 04 2022) ISSN: 1746-6148 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 35120506 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2022. The Author(s).

Topics

• Abortion, Veterinary
• Animals
• Brucellosis (epidemiology, veterinary)
• Cattle
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (veterinary)
• Female
• Goat Diseases (epidemiology)
• Goats
• Guinea
• Pregnancy
• Q Fever (epidemiology, veterinary)
• Rift Valley Fever
• Rift Valley fever virus
• Ruminants
• Seroepidemiologic Studies
• Sheep
• Sheep Diseases (epidemiology)