The seroprevalence of Leptospira spp. and infection risk factors were investigated in horses from a military contingent in the Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. A total of 446 horses were evaluated and categorized into 309 mares, 11 stallions, and 126 horses with an average age of three years. To determine seroprevalence, serum samples from all horses were submitted to the microscopic agglutination test against 12 serovars belonging to nine serogroups, usually circulating in equine populations. To investigate the possible risk factors of infection by Leptospira spp., questionnaires were applied in that military unit. The seroprevalence in the horses with an average age of 3 years, mares, and stallions were 57.94% (73/126), 54.05% (165/309), and 45.45% (5/11), respectively. The main risk factors identified were contact with different water sources, the presence of rodents, and contact with wild and domestic animals. The high seroprevalence of anti‑Leptospira spp. antibodies may be associated with the presence of these risk factors. Therefore, the exposure of horses to possible reservoirs of Leptospira spp. should be minimized. Also, the immunoprophylaxis protocol should be reviewed and a shorter interval between vaccinations adopted to control leptospirosis in this herd.

Ijara district in Kenya was one of the hotspots of Rift Valley fever (RVF) during the 2006/2007 outbreak, which led to human and animal deaths causing major economic losses. The main constraint for the control and prevention of RVF is inadequate knowledge of the risk factors for its occurrence and maintenance. This study was aimed at understanding the perceived risk factors and risk pathways of RVF in cattle in Ijara to enable the development of improved community-based disease surveillance, prediction, control and prevention. A cross-sectional study was carried out from September 2012 to June 2013. Thirty-one key informant interviews were conducted with relevant stakeholders to determine the local pastoralists’ understanding of risk factors and risk pathways of RVF in cattle in Ijara district. All the key informants perceived the presence of high numbers of mosquitoes and large numbers of cattle to be the most important risk factors contributing to the occurrence of RVF in cattle in Ijara. Key informants classified high rainfall as the most important (12/31) to an important (19/31) risk factor. The main risk pathways were infected mosquitoes that bite cattle whilst grazing and at watering points as well as close contact between domestic animals and wildlife. The likelihood of contamination of the environment as a result of poor handling of carcasses and aborted foetuses during RVF outbreaks was not considered an important pathway. There is therefore a need to conduct regular participatory community awareness sessions on handling of animal carcasses in terms of preparedness, prevention and control of any possible RVF epizootics. Additionally, monitoring of environmental conditions to detect enhanced rainfall and flooding should be prioritised for preparedness.

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) is an emerging arthropod-borne pathogen of domestic and wild ruminants responsible for devasting economic losses in European countries with a potential for spreading across boundaries. Three hundred sixty-two (362) serum samples were randomly collected from 7 selected sheep and goat farms from January to October 2019 to investigate the seroprevalence of SBV among small ruminants in Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu states. Seroprevalence of SBV was determined using commercial ID vet® SBV multispecies cELISA test. The farmers completed a structured questionnaire to furnish farm management data to evaluate the risk factors associated with the seroprevalence of SBV among individual animals. A Chi-square test was performed to determine the association between seroprevalence of SBV and putative risk factors of individual animals. Based on the ELISA test, a total of 78 individual animals were seropositive with an overall prevalence of 21.5% and the true prevalence of 22.1% (95% CI:18.06-26.71). Multivariable logistic regression analysis further revealed that Negeri Sembilan state (p<0.001; OR=14.290; 95% CI=5.384-37.930), Breed: Malin sheep (p<0.001; OR=20.453; 95% CI=4.807-87.022), Barbados Black Belly sheep (p<0.01; OR=69.947; 95% CI=16.819-290.901), Boer goat (p<0.001; OR=9.108; 95% CI=3.191-25.997) and crossbred goat (p=0.001; OR=4.964; 95% CI=1.905-12.934) are risk factors of SBV among individual animals. This study highlights the prevalence of a new transboundary disease among small ruminants in Malaysia. The result obtained here provides preliminary data that could guide livestock producers and policy makers in designing suitable prevention and control measures.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with Leptospira sp. in dogs attended at veterinary clinics in the city of João Pessoa, State of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil.  A total of 384 blood samples from dogs from 34 veterinary clinics were used from April 2015 to May 2016. The diagnosis of Leptospira sp. was carried out through Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT), using a collection of 20 pathogenic antigens and adopting a 1: 100 dilution as cutoff point. An epidemiological questionnaire was applied to the owners of the animals to obtain data to be used in the analysis of risk factors. The prevalence of seropositive animals was 11.7% (45/384), with reactions for serogroups Icterohaemorrhagiae (62.3%), Grippotyphosa (22.2%), Canicola (13.3%), Djasiman 2%) and Pomona (2.2%). The following risk factors were identified: age from 49 to 72 months (odds ratio = 2.74), Age > 72 months (odds ratio = 3.22), and monthly cleaning of the environment where the animals are kept (odds ratio = 10,70). It is concluded that dogs attended at veterinary clinics in João Pessoa are exposed to infection by Leptospira sp., with predominance of serogroups kept by wild animals, and it is suggested that the periodic cleaning of the environment where the animals are kept.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of African swine fever (ASF) disease in Benin. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 70 pig farms from the Departement of Atlantique and Oueme and also by using the data available from the Directorate of Livestock on the spread of ASF in Benin from 2014 to 2018. The prevalence of ASF was assessed with 106 nasal swabs from apparently healthy domestic pigs and 15 organ samples from dead ASF-suspected pigs. ASF virus detection was carried out by conventional polymerase chain reac¬tion using Qiagen Kit for DNA extraction. Data recorded were processed with SAS software (2006). Results: It appears that ASF is an endemic disease in Benin with the Department of Oueme as the hotspot of dissemination of the virus in the country. The losses due to ASF recorded from 2014 to 2018 are evaluated to 884,850,000 CFA Franc by estimating the average cost of a pig at 25,000 FCFA. A prevalence of 1.89% (CI at 95%, 0.713.49) was recorded for live animals with a positive result in organs from all dead pigs suspected of ASF. Breeding practices related to the sharing of breeding males, scavenging pigs, and non-compliance with biosecurity measures were the risk factors identified. Conclusion: The present study sheds light on the areas prone to the ASF virus in Benin. Moreover, the cross-sectional data recorded on the prevalence of ASF will help to better rule on the spread of the disease. It would be interesting for the Beninese Republic to increase its efforts for ASF control. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(3.000): 464-470]

Objective: The research work was aimed at assessing the prevalence and risk factors of Peste-des-petits-ruminants (PPR) in goats in some selected areas of Bangladesh along with a comparison of different hemato-biochemical parameters of PPR infected goats.Materials and methods: A presumptive diagnosis of PPR was done based on clinical signs and symptoms. A structured record keeping sheet was used for the estimation of prevalence and risk factors of PPR in goat. A total of 103 blood samples were collected randomly and analyzed for hematobiochemical parameters using automated hemo-analyzer. Results: Out of 103 cases, Black Bengal (59%) and young goats aging minimum-12 months (43.85%) were recognized as highly susceptible to PPR disease. Strong association was found among all the three factors such as age, breed and sex (RR>1). All the values of hematological parameters such as TEC, TLC, Hb, PCV, and DLC were decreased in PPR affected goat as compared to healthy goats except lymphocyte counts, which was increased significantly (P=0.00). The amount of total protein (3.15 gm/L) and albumin (16.88 gm/L) were reduced drastically in PPR affected goats. Conclusion: The lymphocyte content in blood was significantly increased where as the total protein and albumin percent were decreased in the goats affected with PPR. Moreover, this variation in blood profile due to PPR virus infected in goat might be a good indicator in this disease diagnosis. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2018; 5(2.000): 211-217]

The study was conducted to identify the major reproductive health problems and its associated risk factors in indigenous Borena breed cows in Borena zone in Southern Ethiopia between September 2013 and February 2014. Out of the total 409 cows examined, 195 (47.7%) were having at least one of the reproductive problems identified by either questionnaire interview (n=329) or regular follow up (n=80) of individual cows. The major reproductive health problems identified in the present study were mastitis (21.3%; n=87/409), abortion (12.2%; n=50/409), repeat breeder (10.3%; n=42/409), anestrus (10.3%; n=42/409) and retained fetal membrane (RFM; 7.6%; n=31/409). The rate of abortion increased significantly (p=0.001) with the increase in the stage of gestation. Laboratory findings indicated that brucellosis and mastitis had great roles in reproductive health problems of dairy cows in the study area with prevalence rates of 2.91% and 68.41%, respectively. In conclusion, the study revealed that several reproductive health problems such as mastitis, abortion, repeat breeder, anestrus and RFM are mostly prevalent in dairy cows in Borena zone in southern Ethiopia.

Objective: Avian influenza is a zoonotic disease with a pandemic potential that can infect avian and mammalian species, including humans. Studies aimed at investigating avian influenza virus (AIV) status in asymptomatic chickens and their shedding are uncommon in Bangladesh. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the distribution of AIV subtypes in asymptomatic commercial chicken flocks and to identify the possible risk factors associated with this infection in two selected sub-districts of Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: A total of 582 oropharyngeal swabs were collected from 23 chicken farms during 2019 and evaluated for the presence of AIV and its subtypes by real-time reverse transcription PCR assays. Risk factors associated with AIV infection were analyzed from questionnaire data. Results: Overall, AIV prevalence was 7.73% (n = 45) with 7.39% and 7.92% in Dhamrai and Gazipur Sadar sub-districts, respectively. In AIV-positive samples, the prevalence of A/H5N1, A/H5N2, A/ H9N1, and A/H9N2 was 31.11%, 28.89%, 6.67%, and 8.89%, respectively. None of the samples were positive for N6 and N8. The odds ratio (OR) of AIV infection was 1.15 in broiler versus layer and 2 in Sonali versus layer chickens. The OR was 1.95 for medium versus small, 2.6 for large versus small flock size, 1.5 for moderate versus good biosecurity, and 2.92 for poor versus good biosecurity practicing farms. Conclusion: The results demonstrated that A/H5N1, A/H5N2, A/H9N1, and A/H9N2 are circu¬lating in asymptomatic chickens of selected areas. Strict farm biosecurity practices and avoiding higher flock density are recommended to prevent AIV spread in the study. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021; 8(1.000): 51-57]

Objectives: The present study estimated the seroprevalence of avian reovirus (ARV) infections in backyard chickens of the Mymensingh district in Bangladesh. Materials and Methods: Considering several risk factors, a total of 460 serum samples were col¬lected from backyard chickens from eight Upazilas of the Mymensingh district in Bangladesh. Blood samples were taken from the wing vein using 3-ml sterile syringes and kept at room tem¬perature for clotting in a slanting position and then transported to the laboratory maintaining the cool chain. Subsequently, the prepared sera were harvested and stored at &#8722;20&#xb0;C until used. Finally, an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect ARV-specific antibodies using a commercial ARV antibody detection ELISA test kit. Results: The results revealed high prevalence rates of ARV antibodies, with a total seroprevalence of 69.78% (321/460). Area-wise, 74.55% (82/110) seroprevalence was recorded as the highest in Mymensingh Sadar, whereas 64% (32/50) was the lowest in Gauripur Upazila. With regard to sex, female chickens showed a significantly higher (p < 0.05) seroprevalence as 90.33% (271/300) compared to male chickens 31.25% (50/160). With regard to age groups, the seroprevalence of ARV infection was 59.33% (89/150) within 28 weeks, 82% (205/250) within 916 weeks, and 45% (27/60) within 1720 weeks, respectively. Based on hygienic conditions, the highest sero¬prevalence of ARV was noted in backyard chickens housed in poor conditions 80% (120/150) than good conditions 50% (40/80). Backyard chickens reared in free-ranging conditions exhibited a significantly higher seroprevalence 73.33% (220/300) of ARV antibodies compared to rearing in separate houses 63.12% (101/160). The seroprevalence of ARV was higher in crossbreeds 71.67% (43/60), brought from market 76% (38/50), and unhealthy 78.57% (55/70) backyard chickens than non-descriptive indigenous 69.5% (278/400), home-reared 69.02% (283/410), and healthy chick¬ens 68.21% (266/390). Conclusion: The high prevalence of ARV antibodies revealed in the current study indicates an extensive exposure of ARV to backyard chickens in Bangladesh that may be transmitted naturally to other chickens, ultimately leading to ominous economic effects on the poultry sector. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2020; 7(3.000): 546-553]

Objective: This cross-sectional study was conducted from April to July 2012 to estimate the prevalence of brucellosis and investigate the risk factors that enhance its occurrence in cattle in Khartoum state, the Sudan.Material and methods: A total of 300 serum samples were taken from jugular veins of cattle and screened by Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Serum Agglutination Test (SAT). The RBPT-positive samples were all tested using c-ELISA. Results: Antibodies were detected with an overall seroprevalence of 25.7% using RBPT and 22.7% using SAT while slightly less than two thirds of the RBPT-positive samples were cELISA-positive. The herd and within-herd seroprevalences were 76.7% (n=23) and from 10.0-80.0%. Moreover, significant statistical dissimilarities were not observed between the seroprevalence of the different categories of the investigated risk factors by RBPT. Only milking method ( and #967;2=3.976; P=0.046) was found to have an influence on the RBPT-positive status for brucella infection in the univariate analysis. Additionally, natural breeding (OR=3.61; 95% CI 1.192 and ndash;10.96; P=0.023) was the only observed risk factor with an increased odd of being RBPT positive. The Kappa analysis showed an almost perfect agreement between the results of the RBPT and the SAT tests. Conclusion: The prevalence of anti-brucella antibodies in Khartoum state was relatively higher; therefore, brucellosis in cattle is, perhaps, a significant public health problem. It is recommended to raise awareness of cattle owners and/or herders on the routes of transmission of brucellosis. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2016; 3(2.000): 134-144]