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Almeshay MD, Gusbi A, Eldaghayes I, Mansouri R, Bengoumi M, Dayhum AS.
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Vet Ital. 2017 Sep 30;53(3):235-242. doi: 10.12834/vetit.964.5025.3.
Abstract
A cross‑sectional study was conducted in Libya in 7 areas of Tripoli to determine
the seroprevalence of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) Virus (PPRV) in small
ruminants (sheep and goats) between June and August 2013, and to identify the
potential risk factors associated with the infection. The study involved 10% of
small ruminant herds with ≥50 animals in the Tripoli region. They were selected
randomly (15 herds), and 35 to 58 samples, depending on its size, were collected
from each selected herd. Seven‑hundred and twenty‑one serum samples from
unvaccinated animals (601 of sheep and 120 of goats) were collected and then tested
using cELISA commercial kit in the National Center of Animal Health Laboratory in
Tripoli, Libya. The overall seroprevalence was 46.7% [(sheep 44.3% (266/601) and
goats 59.2% (71/120)]. Mean within‑herd prevalence was 48.5% (95% CI: 32.1% ‑
64.8%), and the herd prevalence was 93.3% (14/15). Various risk factors at the
animal and herd levels were analysed by multivariable logistic regression model
(forward stepwise). The results identified breed, source of animal, and region as
significant risk factors (p< 0.05). As for the source of new animal to the farm,
PPRV seroprevalence was highest in illegally imported animals (90.9%), followed by
the seroprevalence in animal legitimately acquired (55.8%), and by the
seroprevalence in animals belonging to the same herd (4.7%). The seroprevalence
among breeds was 69.5% (228÷328) in illegally imported animals, whereas 27.7%
(109÷393) was found to be in local breed. Seroprevalence in the areas considered in
this study was higher (66.2%) in Al‑Mashroa area followed by Ein‑zara (57.8%), Arada
(50%), Ben‑Own (47%), AL‑Naem (37.5), Ber‑Alalem (24.5) and in Tajora (0%). The
results indicated that PPRV virus was actively circulating in Tripoli regions and
that the illegal importing of animals was the main source of spreading PPR in
Tripoli regions, showing that better efforts should be made to raise public
awareness with respect to biosecurity.
Keywords: .
Link/DOI: 10.12834/vetit.964.5025.3