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. 2018 Nov 12;14(1):339.
doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1666-y.

Seroprevalence of border disease virus and other pestiviruses in sheep in Algeria and associated risk factors

Naouel Feknous  1 , Jean-Baptiste Hanon  2 , Marylène Tignon  2 , Hamza Khaled  3 , Abdallah Bouyoucef  4 , Brigitte Cay  2
Affiliations

Seroprevalence of border disease virus and other pestiviruses in sheep in Algeria and associated risk factors

Naouel Feknous et al. BMC Vet Res. .

Abstract

Background: Border disease virus (BDV) is a pestivirus responsible for significant economic losses in sheep industry. The present study was conducted between 2015 and 2016 to determine the flock seroprevalence of the disease in Algeria and to identify associated risk factors. 56 flocks from nine departments were visited and 689 blood samples were collected from adult sheep between 6 and 24 months of age (n = 576) and from lambs younger than 6 months (n = 113). All samples were tested by RT-PCR as well as by Ag-ELISA, to detect Persistently Infected (PI) animals. Serum samples from adults were tested by Ab-ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay), to detect specific antibodies against pestivirus and 197 of them were further characterized by VNT (virus neutralization test) for the detection of neutralizing antibodies specific for BDV and for Bovine virus diarrhea virus (BVDV-1 and BVDV-2).

Results: No PI animals were found among the 689 sheep tested. 144/197 sera were positive in VNT for BDV, and 2 sera were strongly positive BVDV-2. Fifty-five flocks (98%) had at least one seropositive animal and the apparent within-flock seroprevalence was estimated to be 60.17% (95% C.I.: 52.96-66.96). The true seroprevalence based on estimated sensitivity and specificity of the Ab-ELISA was 68.20% (95% C.I.; 60.2-76.3). Several risk factors were identified as linked to BDV such as climate, landscape, flock management and presence of other ruminant species in the farm.

Conclusion: These high seroprevalence rates suggest that BDV is widespread and is probably endemic all over the country. Further studies are needed to detect and isolate the virus strains circulating in the country and understand the distribution and impact of pestiviruses in the Algerian livestock.

Keywords: Algeria; Border disease virus; Persistently infected; Pestivirus; Seroprevalence; Sheep.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The collection of blood samples and the recording of herd data was carried out with the verbal consent of the owners of the animals, who were assisting to hold their animals during sampling. Samples were taken by qualified private and state veterinarians, in a professional manner and respecting animal welfare. No animals were euthanized and the study was approved by the ethical review board of the Institute of veterinary medicine of the University of Blida in Algeria.

Consent for publication

Not Applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Location of the study zone (nine Algerian departments, dotted area) and of the 56 municipalities where sheep flocks were sampled (marked by Δ symbol). (Map created using Q-GIS software and administrative maps downloaded from GADM.org)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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