[Arbovirus infections in Morocco: serosurvey in small wild mammals in the northern part of the country]

Abstract

Sera of 128 small wild mammals (rodents, insectivora) trapped in Northern Morocco in March 1979, were studied for antibody against 15 arboviruses. In inhibition-haemagglutination tests, positive reactions were found against West Nile (0.8%), Tahyna (21 %), Arumowot (14 %) and Sicilian Sandfly fever (9.4 %) viruses. In complement fixation tests, an unique serum from Apodemus sylvaticus was simultaneously positive for Quaranfil virus and for a Kemerovo group virus, Brest/Ar/T222, previously isolated from Ornithodoros (A.) maritimus ticks caught in Morocco. These results are discussed according to the bioclimatic profile of the station where the mammals originated and to the potential vectors known to occur here.