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. 2024 Feb 29:11:1310202.
doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1310202. eCollection 2024.

Estimation of the economic impact of a bluetongue serotype 4 outbreak in Tunisia

Ameni Ben Salem  1 , Elhem Ben Aicha  1 , Sana Kalthoum  1 , Anissa Dhaouadi  1 , Haikel Hajlaoui  1 , Bassem Bel Haj Mohamed  1 , Imed Ben Slimen  1 , Wiem Khalfaoui  1 , Raja Gharbi  1 , Kaouther Guesmi  1 , Mehdi Ben Ali  1 , Naouel Fatnassi  1 , Chedia Seghaier  1 , Thameur Ben Hassine  2 , Mohamed Gharbi  3
Affiliations

Estimation of the economic impact of a bluetongue serotype 4 outbreak in Tunisia

Ameni Ben Salem et al. Front Vet Sci. .

Abstract

Introduction: Since 1999, Tunisia has experienced multiple occurrences of Bluetongue (BT) outbreaks, leading to numerous reported cases of infection and mortality in flocks. The re-emergence of the disease in 2020 caused substantial economic losses in cattle, attributed to the incursion of serotype BTV-4.

Methods: To evaluate the economic impact of the recent BT episode, we conducted a retrospective study on outbreaks that occurred in Tunisia between August and November 2020, focusing on the impact at the owner's level and its effects on both small ruminants and cattle. A total of 234 ruminant farms (sheep, cattle, and mixed) were randomly selected across Tunisian governorates and included in the study to estimate both the direct and indirect costs of these outbreaks.

Results: Total costs were calculated as the sum of losses and expenditures resulting from the BT outbreaks. At the animal level, total losses were estimated to range between 116.280 and 207.086 TND for one infected ewe (€33.721 and 60.055). For one lactating cow, costs varied between 2,590.724 and 3,171.107 TND (€751.310 and 919.621). In cattle, exposure to BTV led to a daily unit milk yield decrease of 12.50 to 14.66 L over an average period of 5 months. Diseased sheep experienced weight loss ranging between 4 and 10 kg during the BT outbreaks. The total mean cost of the 2020 BT outbreak in Tunisian investigated farms was estimated at 1,935 million TND (million €561.15) (range: 1,489 and 2,474 million TND; 431.81 and million €717.46). The most influential costs of the total BT outbreaks were the decrease in milk yield, mortality, and veterinary treatment.

Discussion: This study gives valuable insights on the economic impact of the incursion of a new serotype of BT in a naive population in Tunisia. Considering the substantial costs incurred, it is imperative that this disease receives increased attention from stakeholders, including animal owners, veterinary services, practitioners, and decision-makers.

Keywords: Tunisia; bluetongue; cattle; economic impact; goat; losses; outbreak; sheep.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Tornado plot for the treatment costs (in TND) in Tunisian investigated farms according to their types.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Tornado plot for the abortion costs (in TND) in Tunisian investigated farms according to their types.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Tornado plot for the mortality costs (in million TND) in Tunisian investigated farms.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Tornado plot for the total BT outbreak costs (in million TND) in Tunisian investigated farms.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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