title: Serological assessment of West Nile fever virus activity in the pastoral system of Ferlo, Senegal.
abstract: The Ferlo area (north-central Senegal) is characterized by a system of temporary ponds favorable to arboviruses among which West Nile fever (WNF) was already identified. During the rainy season in 2003, a serological study was undertaken on horses to assess the activity of the WNF virus (WNFV) in Barkedji (Ferlo). The observed serological prevalence rate was 78.3% for neutralizing antibodies, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of [64.0, 92.7]. This prevalence rate significantly increased with age (P = 10(-5)). This study confirmed that WNF was endemic in the Ferlo. The transmission risks depended on the introduction of the WNFV in the ecosystem--probably with migrating birds, on its amplification in hosts and on the vector-population dynamic. Further studies are needed to investigate how the cycle is initiated in Barkedji at the beginning of the rainy season and the impact of climatic variations on the risk of transmission of WNF. A surveillance system should be implemented: (a) to assess the clinical impact of the WNF on human and equine populations, (b) to provide an early detection of virulent strains, and (c) to assess the risk of WNF transmission to disease-free ecosystems via migrating birds.
authors.affiliation: Centre International de Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. chevalier@cirad.fr
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Chevalier
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lancelot
authors.forename: Amadou
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diaité
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mondet
authors.forename: Baba
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sall
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: De Lamballerie
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology; D009500:Neutralization Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D012621:Seasons; D012675:Senegal / Q000453:epidemiology; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance / Q000662:veterinary; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology*; D015047:Zoonoses
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral