Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of African Horse Sickness in Three Agroecological Zones of Cameroon

African horse sickness (AHS), a highly fatal arbovirosis of equines is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. However, its epidemiology is poorly known in Cameroon. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence profile and risk factors of African horse sickness in Cameroon. Horse sera were subjected to the ELISA blocking test for the determination of antibodies against African horse sickness virus, and positive samples were submitted to capture ELISA to determine the presence of antigens. Potential risk factors associated with AHS were assessed based on the information collected in the field. The chi-square test and the odd ratio (OR) were used to test the association between serology and the different variables. Of the 336 sera obtained, 198 were positive for antibodies with a prevalence of 58.93% (CI: 53.67–64.19). From the 198 positive sera to antibodies, only one revealed positivity to antigens with a prevalence of 0.51% (CI: 0–1.5). Agroecological zone I (94.31%, CI: 91.83–96.79, OR: 34.92) was significantly (p < 0.05) associated with the higher risk of disease dissemination than agroecological zone II (66.67%, CI: 61.63–71.71, OR: 4.21) and agroecological zone III (32.18%, CI: 27.18–37.18; OR: 1). Males (63.59%, CI: 58.44–68.74, OR: 1) were significantly (p < 0.05) affected than females (50.42%, CI: 45.07–55.77; OR: 0.58). Horses of more than 8 years (76.00%, CI: 71.43–80.57) were significantly (p < 0.05) at risk than young animals of less than 3 years old (32.14%, CI: 27.15–37.13, OR: 0.15). This study highlights a high seroprevalence of antibodies of African horse sickness in Cameroon. Agroecological zone, age, and the importation of horses were highly associated with the distribution of disease at the national level.

[1]  S. Lecollinet,et al.  African horse sickness. , 2015, Revue scientifique et technique.

[2]  C. Batten,et al.  African horse sickness in The Gambia: circulation of a live-attenuated vaccine-derived strain , 2011, Epidemiology and Infection.

[3]  C. Weyer.  African horse sickness virus dynamics and host responses in naturally infected horses , 2011 .

[4]  M. Bitew,et al.  Serological survey of African horse sickness in selected districts of Jimma zone, Southwestern Ethiopia , 2011, Tropical Animal Health and Production.

[5]  P. Mellor,et al.  Horse sickness and ENSO in South Africa , 1999, Nature.

[6]  T. Burrage,et al.  African horsesickness: pathogenesis and immunity. , 1994, Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases.

[7]  K. McCullough,et al.  Seroepidemiological study of African horse sickness virus in The Gambia , 1993, Journal of clinical microbiology.

[8]  J. Parker.  African horse sickness , 1976, Veterinary Record.

[9]  A. Laurent,et al.  Note sur l'écologie de la peste équine africaine (PEA) , 1974 .

[10]  E. B. Gurmu,et al.  Seroprevalence of African Horse Sickness at Central Highland of Ethiopia , 2015 .

[11]  Clement A Meseko,et al.  Detection of African horse sickness virus antibodies by ELISA in sera collected from unvaccinated horses in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria , 2015 .

[12]  M. Fall.  Ecologie et lutte contre les Culicoides vecteurs de la peste équine et de la fièvre catarrhale ovine au Sénégal , 2015 .

[13]  S. Zientara,et al.  Les Culicoides, Diptères hématophages vecteurs de la fièvre catarrhale du mouton , 2005 .

[14]  P. Mellor,et al.  African horse sickness. , 2004, Veterinary research.

[15]  Cirad-Iemvt Fra,et al.  Revue d'élevage et de médecine vétérinaire des pays tropicaux, 1947-2000 , 2001 .

[16]  E. J. Wittmann.  Temperature and the transmission of arboviruses by Culicoides biting midges , 2000 .

[17]  S. Zientara.  Epidémiologie moléculaire du virus de la peste équine : étude de la diversité génomique des souches par amplification génique, séquencage et comparaison de la séquence du fragment 10 , 1995 .

[18]  B. Chomel,et al.  [Veterinary epidemiology]. , 1991, Revue d'epidemiologie et de sante publique.