The value of camels as sentinels for bluetongue virus in Morocco

Authors

  • Kamar Drif Agronomy and Veterinary Institute (IAV) Hassan II, Al Irfane, Rabat, Morocco
  • Gert Venter Epidemiology, Parasites and Vectors, Agriculture Research Council- Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, Onderstepoort, South Africa. Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science,University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
  • Mehdi El Harrak Clinvet, Benslimane, Morocco
  • Ouafaa Fassi Fihri Agronomy and Veterinary Institute (IAV) Hassan II, Al Irfane, Rabat, Morocco
  • Chafiqa Loutfi Biopharma Lab, Rabat, Morocco
  • Nadia Touil Equipe de Recherche en Virologie Moléculaire et Onc‑Biologie, Faculté de Médecine et de Pharmacie, Université Mohamed V, Av. Mohamed Belarbi El Alaoui, Rabat, Morocco
  • Bachir Harif Biopharma Lab, Rabat,Morocco

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.1502.8097.1

Abstract

A  serosurvey  was  conducted  to  determine  the  value  of  camels  (Camelus  dromedaries)  as sentinel animals for the detection of bluetongue virus (BTV) in Morocco. Between 2010 and 2013, camels from various localities in Morocco were randomly tested for antibodies against BTV  serotypes‑1,  ‑4,  ‑6,  ‑8,  ‑11,  ‑14,  and  ‑16.  Antibodies  against  1  or  more  serotypes  were detected in 41.8% of 537 camels tested with a competitive enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay  (ELISA)  diagnostic  test.  Of  the  7  tested  serotypes,  only  BTV‑11  antibodies  were  not detected with serum neutralisation assays. This study not only confirms the epidemiological presence of BTV‑1, ‑4, and ‑8 in Morocco, but also presents the first evidence of BTV‑6, ‑14, and ‑16 in the country. As such, we conclude that camels would be ideal sentinel animals to determine the potential risk of BTV in Morocco

Downloads

Published

2019-01-29

How to Cite

Drif, K., Venter, G., El Harrak, M., Fassi Fihri, O., Loutfi, C., Touil, N., & Harif, B. (2019). The value of camels as sentinels for bluetongue virus in Morocco. Veterinaria Italiana, 54(4), 343–348. https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.1502.8097.1

Issue

Vol. 54 No. 4 (2018)

Topics*

Short communication