Megenas Jemberu A, Dadi Mengistu L, Mekonnen Tesfu K, Larrick James W, Kassa Gezahegne M
College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Bishoftu, Ethiopia.
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gambella University, Gambella, Ethiopia.
Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis. 2024 Sep 16;6:100215. doi: 10.1016/j.crpvbd.2024.100215. eCollection 2024.
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is one of the emerging arthropod-borne zoonotic viral diseases with serious public and economic significance in the livestock and human populations of East Africa. Its epidemiology is inadequately recognized in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence and potential risk factors of RVF in domestic livestock of Amibara and Haruka districts of the Afar Region, northeastern Ethiopia. A total of 736 (224 cattle, 121 goats, 144 sheep, 155 camels and 92 donkeys) blood samples were collected, and serum extracted and tested using competitive ELISA. A questionnaire survey was used to assess potential risk factors of RVF infection. The overall seroprevalence was 22.0% (162/736; 95% CI: 19.41-24.79%). The seroprevalence was significantly higher in goats (42.2%, 95% CI: 39.61-44.99%) compared to that of cattle (14.3%, 95% CI: 11.74-17.09%), sheep (21.5%, 95% CI: 18.91-24.29%), or camels (30.97%, 95% CI: 28.38-33.76%) ( < 0.001). The study showed that seropositivity for IgG antibody to RVFV infection was associated with locality and species of animal. Goats were two times more likely to be seropositive for RVFV infection than cattle (OR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.462-3.574, = 0.001). Livestock in the Kealatburi area were five times more likely to be seropositive for RVFV infection than those in the Halidegei area (OR: 5.074, 95% CI: 3.066-8.396, = 0.001). This study revealed that RVF is an important animal health problem in the Afar Region. Therefore, monitoring of RVF in animals, humans, and vectors along with community sensitization of high-risk populations could benefit mitigating the risk posed by the disease. Quarantine measures should be implemented to reduce the risk of RVFV introduction and dissemination among susceptible animals and ultimately transmission to humans.
裂谷热（RVF）是一种新出现的节肢动物传播的人畜共患病毒性疾病，对东非的牲畜和人类具有严重的公共卫生和经济意义。在埃塞俄比亚，其流行病学情况尚未得到充分认识。开展了一项横断面研究，以调查埃塞俄比亚东北部阿法尔地区阿米巴拉和哈鲁卡区家畜中裂谷热的血清流行率及潜在风险因素。共采集了736份血液样本（224头牛、121只山羊、144只绵羊、155峰骆驼和92头驴），提取血清并使用竞争ELISA法进行检测。通过问卷调查评估裂谷热感染的潜在风险因素。总体血清流行率为22.0%（162/736；95%置信区间：19.41 - 24.79%）。与牛（14.3%，95%置信区间：11.74 - 17.09%）、绵羊（21.5%，95%置信区间：18.91 - 24.29%）或骆驼（30.97%，95%置信区间：28.38 - 33.76%）相比，山羊的血清流行率显著更高（<0.001）。研究表明，裂谷热病毒感染的IgG抗体血清阳性与动物的产地和种类有关。山羊感染裂谷热病毒血清阳性的可能性是牛的两倍（比值比：2.3，95%置信区间：1.462 - 3.574， = 0.001）。凯拉特布里地区的家畜感染裂谷热病毒血清阳性的可能性是哈利德盖地区家畜的五倍（比值比：5.074，95%置信区间：3.066 - 8.396， = 0.001）。本研究表明，裂谷热是阿法尔地区一个重要的动物健康问题。因此，对动物、人类和病媒进行裂谷热监测，同时对高危人群进行社区宣传，可能有助于降低该疾病带来的风险。应实施检疫措施，以降低裂谷热病毒传入和在易感动物中传播并最终传播给人类的风险。
