Emerging vector-borne diseases in dromedaries in Tunisia: West Nile, bluetongue, epizootic haemorrhagic disease and Rift Valley fever

Hassine, Thameur B.; Amdouni, Jihane; Monaco, Federica; Savini, Giovanni; Sghaier, Soufien; Selimen, Imed B.; Chandoul, Walid; Hamida, Khaled B.; Hammami, Salah

Emerging vector-borne diseases in dromedaries in Tunisia: West Nile, bluetongue, epizootic haemorrhagic disease and Rift Valley fever

2017

Hassine, Thameur B.(Université la Manouba Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet) | Amdouni, Jihane(Université Tunis El Manar Institut de la Recherche Vétérinaire de Tunisie) | Monaco, Federica(Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise) | Savini, Giovanni(Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise) | Sghaier, Soufien(Université Tunis El Manar Institut de la Recherche Vétérinaire de Tunisie) | Selimen, Imed B.(Commissariats Régionaux au Développement Agricole) | Chandoul, Walid(Commissariats Régionaux au Développement Agricole) | Hamida, Khaled B.(Université Tunis El Manar Institut de la Recherche Vétérinaire de Tunisie) | Hammami, Salah(Université la Manouba Ecole Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet ,Université Tunis El Manar Institut de la Recherche Vétérinaire de Tunisie)

A total of 118 sera were collected during 2016 from two groups of dromedaries from Kebili and Medenine governorates in the south of Tunisia. The aim of this study was to provide the first serological investigation of four emerging vector-borne diseases in two groups of dromedaries in Tunisia. Sera were tested by ELISA and serum neutralisation test to identify West Nile virus (WNV), bluetongue virus (BTV), epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV). In the first group, the seroprevalence for BTV was 4.6%, while in the second group, it was 25.8% for WNV and 9.7% for BTV. Only serotype 1 was detected for BTV in the two groups. No evidence for circulation of RVF and EHD viruses was revealed. Results indicated that dromedaries can be infected with BTV and WNV, suggesting that this species might play a significant role in the epizootiology of these viral diseases in Tunisia and neighbouring countries.

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