[Decrease of natural immunity against Rift Valley fever in domestic ruminants of the Senegal River basin after the epizootic outbreak of 1987]

Abstract

A domestic ruminants serosurvey of Rift valley fever (RVF) neutralizing antibodies has been carried out during three years after the 1987 epidemic in the Senegal River Basin. Authors present results from the 1990 serosurvey that are matched with the preview surveys. Out of 1,225 ongulate tested, 17.2% had RVF virus antibodies. There is a global decrease in the herds immunity since the epizootic manifestation associated with the 1987 epidemic. Significant differences in seroprevalence are observed from the delta (28.5%) to the lower (17.9%) and middle valley (6.1%) of the Senegal river. Cattle are more likely to be with an higher seroprevalence than goat and sheep.