Use of sentinel serosurveillance of mules and donkeys in the monitoring of West Nile virus infection.
A cross-sectional study was carried out on clinically normal mules and donkeys in a region of southern Spain to assess the seroprevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) following detection of infection in contiguous horse and human populations. Antibodies against WNV were detected by a blocking ELISA and micro-virus neutralisation test in 12/165 (7.3%; CI(95%) 4.3-11.3) of the animals sampled. Even though the individual seroprevalence was higher in mules (9.6%; 8/83) than in donkeys (4.9%; 4/82), the difference was not statistically significant. Nine of 90 herds (10.0%; CI(95%) 3.8-16.2) contained at least one seropositive animal. Antibodies against WNV were also detected in 1/4 (25%) donkeys tested on three farms where WNV cases had been confirmed in horses. None of 26 potential explanatory variables was identified as a risk factor for seropositivity. Such serosurveillance of sentinel mules or donkeys may be a useful tool in the epidemiological monitoring of WNV in regions where horses are vaccinated.
Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, UCO, Campus Universitarios de Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain. nacho.garcia@uco.es
Ignacio
I
García-Bocanegra
Antonio
A
Arenas-Montes
Juan A
JA
Jaén-Téllez
Sebastián
S
Napp
Manuel
M
Fernández-Morente
Antonio
A
Arenas
D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018397:Equidae / Q000821:virology*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D009500:Neutralization Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000662:veterinary*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology