title: Risk analysis and seroprevalence of bovine ephemeral fever virus in cattle in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
abstract: Bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) is an arthropod-borne rhabdovirus that causes disabling clinical signs and major economic losses in cattle and water buffalo. The disease is well documented in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East; however, the seroprevalence of BEFV in different regions and bovine breeds in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze risk factors which affect the prevalence of antibodies against BEFV in small herds of cattle in four geographical regions of KSA. A total of 1480 serum samples from non-BEFV vaccinated small herds of cattle were collected from the Eastern, Jizan, Qasim, and Riyadh regions (370 samples per region) during the summer of 2010. Serum neutralization test was used to detect antibodies against BEFV. There was a significant effect of region, breed, sex, and age on the seroprevalence of BEFV. Seropositive ratios were 18, 18, 26, and 12 % for the Eastern, Jizan, Qasim, and Riyadh regions, respectively (P = 0.00002); 23.2 % for dairy and 13.7 % for non-dairy breeds (P = 0.00004); 24.4 % for males and 14.6 % for females (P = 0.00004); and 15.4, 29.1, and 11.4 % for animals <1 year, 1-3 years, and >3 years, respectively (P < 0.001). Risk analysis showed a significant effect of different regions of KSA on the seroprevalence of BEFV. Host risk factors (age, sex, and breed) showed also a significant effect on the seroprevalence of BEFV. This indicates active circulation of this virus in small herds of cattle. Insect control strategies and BEFV vaccination programs during the spring are recommended to reduce the spread of BEFV and minimize subsequent economic losses as this is adopted in many enzootic countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, King Faisal University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia. zagahmed@hotmail.com.|Department of Animal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Sadat, Egypt. zagahmed@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zaghawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, King Faisal University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Fadhel Mohamed Taher
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Housawi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, King Faisal University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdulmohsen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Naeem
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Resources, King Faisal University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al-Nakhly
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sadat City, Sadat, Egypt.|College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamr
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Ramiro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Toribio
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D001947:Breeding; D002417:Cattle; D004810:Ephemeral Fever / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D018115:Ephemeral Fever Virus, Bovine / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012621:Seasons; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014611:Vaccination / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Bovine ephemeral fever; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Risk analysis; Seroprevalence; Small herds of cattle