Sero-epidemiology of bluetongue in Algerian ruminants

Abstract

A total of 2871 blood samples were collected (450 cattle, 1932 sheep and 489 goats) from 225 randomly sampled herds between January and June 2014. Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (CELISA) was used to detect antibodies from sera as an indicator of exposure to bluetongue virus (BTV). The results show an overall herd seroprevalence of 16.44% (95% CI 9.42-23.46); 21.3% (95% CI 17.1- 25.6) for cattle and 13.33% (95% CI 9.86-16.8) for small ruminants, respectively. At the individual level; our results revealed an overall seroprevalence of 6.96% (200/2871); 13.7% (62/450) for cattle and 5.70% (138/2421) for small ruminants. The risk factor analysis performed by univariate analysis followed by multiple logistic regressions indicated that transhumance, mixed herds, presence of wetlands nearby the herds and lack of Culicoides controls strategies were the major risk factors for bluetongue seropositivity in Algerian ruminant herds.

Key words: Algeria, bluetongue, seroprevalence, risk factors, ruminants.