Halawi Abdel-Amir Dib, Saasa Ngonda, Pongombo Boniface Lombe, Kajihara Masahiro, Chambaro Herman Moses, Hity Mutambel, Sawa Hirofumi, Takada Ayato, Mweene Aaron S, Nsembo Luamba Lua, Simulundu Edgar
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, National Pedagogic University, Matadi/Liberation Street, Ngaliema, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Trop Anim Health Prod. 2019 Nov;51(8):2619-2627. doi: 10.1007/s11250-019-01978-z. Epub 2019 Jun 28.
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a zoonotic mosquito-borne disease caused by RVF virus (RVFV) that causes abortions and high mortalities in livestock and is also associated with acute and fatal disease in humans. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), information on the epidemiology of RVF is limited, particularly among cattle reared by smallholder farmers. This cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence of RVF in cattle raised by smallholder farmers in Kwilu Province of DRC, which has not yet reported an RVF epidemic. A total of 677 cattle sera were collected from four territories and tested for anti-RVFV antibodies using immunofluorescent assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The overall seroprevalence of anti-RVFV IgG was 6.5% (44/677) (95% CI 4.81-8.7). There was a statistically significant difference in the seroprevalence among the territories (χ = 28.79, p < 0.001). Territory seroprevalences were as follows: Idiofa 14.08% (95% CI 9.78-19.76), Bulungu 4.14% (95% CI 1.83-8.68), Gungu 3.21% (95% CI 1.41-6.78), and Masi-Manimba 1.19% (95% CI 0.06-7.37). Seroprevalence differed significantly among age categories (p = 0.0017) and ecosystem (p < 0.001). The seroprevalence of animals aged between 1 and 2 years was 20.0% (95% CI 8.4-39.13) and was higher than group aged <1 year, between 2 and 3 years, and > 3 years. Forest area (18.92% (95% CI 12.35-27.7)) had higher seropositivity than savannah area (4.06% (95% CI 2.65-6.12)). Sex difference was not significant (χ = 0.14, p = 0.704). These findings indicate that cattle in Kwilu Province had been exposed to RVFV, which represents a significant risk for both livestock and human health.
裂谷热（RVF）是一种由裂谷热病毒（RVFV）引起的人畜共患蚊媒疾病，可导致家畜流产和高死亡率，也与人类的急性和致命疾病有关。在刚果民主共和国（DRC），关于裂谷热流行病学的信息有限，特别是在小农户饲养的牛群中。本横断面研究旨在调查刚果民主共和国奎卢省小农户饲养的牛群中裂谷热的血清流行率，该省尚未报告裂谷热疫情。从四个地区共采集了677份牛血清，并使用免疫荧光法和酶联免疫吸附测定法检测抗RVFV抗体。抗RVFV IgG的总体血清流行率为6.5%（44/677）（95%CI 4.81-8.7）。各地区之间的血清流行率存在统计学显著差异（χ=28.79，p<0.001）。各地区血清流行率如下：伊迪奥法14.08%（95%CI 9.78-19.76），布隆古4.14%（95%CI 1.83-8.68），贡古3.21%（95%CI 1.41-6.78），以及马西-马尼姆巴1.19%（95%CI 0.06-7.37）。不同年龄类别（p=0.0017）和生态系统（p<0.001）之间的血清流行率存在显著差异。1至2岁动物的血清流行率为20.0%（95%CI 8.4-39.13），高于<1岁、2至3岁和>3岁组。森林地区（18.92%（95%CI 12.35-27.7））的血清阳性率高于稀树草原地区（4.06%（95%CI 2.65-6.12））。性别差异不显著（χ=0.14，p=0.704）。这些发现表明，奎卢省的牛已接触过RVFV，这对家畜和人类健康均构成重大风险。
