Alzuheir Ibrahim, Fayyad Adnan, Jalboush Nasr, Abdallah Rosemary, Abutarbush Sameeh, Gharaibeh Mohammad, Bdarneh Majd, Khraim Nimer, Helal Mohammad Abu, Helal Belal Abu
Department of Veterinary Medicine, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7 Nablus, Palestine.
Palestinian Livestock Development Center, Tubas-Palestine.
Vet World. 2021 May;14(5):1241-1246. doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2021.1241-1246. Epub 2021 May 21.
West Nile fever (WNF) is a neurotropic, mosquito-borne disease affecting humans and domesticated animals, caused by a member of the genus . Over the last decades, this virus has been responsible for several cases of illness in humans and animals. The current epidemiological status of WNF in horses is insufficient, and in veterinarians, as an occupational hazard is unknown. This study aimed to investigate and determine the seroprevalence and risk factors for WNF in veterinarians and horses in Palestine.
In this study, serum samples from 100 veterinarians and 87 horses were collected between August 2020 and September 2020 from different cities of Northern Palestine. West Nile virus (WNV) antibodies were detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Our results showed that 60.9% of the horse serum samples were positive in all investigated cities. In horses, location is a risk factor for the seropositivity for WNF, whereas age, sex, breed, and intended use of the horses, were not associated with increased WNF seropositivity. In veterinarians, 23.0% of the serum samples were positive. Positive samples were detected in all locations, age groups, experience length, and work sectors. However, the seropositivity for WNF was not influenced by these variables.
The results revealed that WNV circulates in most regions of Palestine. Our results will help determine the risk of infection in animals and humans and control WNV transmission. Surveillance studies on humans, vectors, and animals are needed to better define endemic areas.
西尼罗河热（WNF）是一种嗜神经性、由蚊子传播的疾病，可感染人类和家畜，由该属的一个成员引起。在过去几十年里，这种病毒已导致多起人类和动物患病病例。目前关于马匹中西尼罗河热的流行病学状况尚不充分，而对于兽医来说，作为一种职业危害也尚不明确。本研究旨在调查并确定巴勒斯坦兽医和马匹中西尼罗河热的血清阳性率及危险因素。
在本研究中，于2020年8月至2020年9月期间从巴勒斯坦北部不同城市收集了100名兽医和87匹马的血清样本。使用酶联免疫吸附测定法检测西尼罗河病毒（WNV）抗体。
我们的结果显示，在所有调查城市中，60.9%的马血清样本呈阳性。在马匹中，地理位置是西尼罗河热血清阳性的一个危险因素，而马匹的年龄、性别、品种和预期用途与西尼罗河热血清阳性率的增加无关。在兽医中，23.0%的血清样本呈阳性。在所有地点、年龄组、工作年限和工作部门均检测到阳性样本。然而，这些变量并未影响西尼罗河热的血清阳性率。
结果表明西尼罗河病毒在巴勒斯坦的大多数地区传播。我们的结果将有助于确定动物和人类的感染风险并控制西尼罗河病毒的传播。需要对人类、病媒和动物进行监测研究，以更好地界定流行地区。
