title: Abortion and various associated risk factors in small ruminants in Algeria.
abstract: Identification of the causes of abortion among the huge population of small ruminants in Algeria (≈31 millions heads), is an important task for the control of livestock productivity and viability scourges to the small ruminants industry. Optimal production and utilization is constrained by a number of factors: disease, poor feeding and low management skills. Therefore, in the present study the prevalence of abortion in Algerian small ruminant's flocks was estimated and its possible association was correlated with infectious (PPR, BT and Brucellosis seropositivity) and managerial (flock size, grazing system, type of farming, and contact with other flocks) risk factors. The present study showed an overall flock prevalence of small ruminant's abortion as 75.33% (113/150) [95% CI 71.72-78.94%]. The risk factor analysis using multivariable logistic regression recognized the north-western and the steppe region as well as PPR positivity as a risk factor for abortion in Algerian small ruminant's flocks. The odds of flock abortion was 11.47 [95% CI 2.39-54.88; P=0.002] and 10.31 [95% CI 1.28-82.88; P=0.028] times higher in north-western and steppe regions respectively compared to other region. Also the presence of PPRV infection in small ruminant flocks amplified the odds by 6 times [95% CI 2.221-17.427; P=0.001].Surprisingly, the univariate analysis for the other risk factors associated with abortions in Algerian small ruminant flocks indicated no statistically significant links with bluetongue (P=1.000) and brucellosis seropositivity (P=0.334). Flock size (P=0.574), type of farming (P=0.443), grazing system (P=0.117) and contact with other flocks (P=0.245) was also not statistically significant. Our results revealed that abortion in small ruminants is a challenge to farmers and PPR was chiefly linked to it. Therefore an effective vaccination and control programme is advocated for small ruminants in Algeria.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de Médecine Vétérinaire (INMV), Cinq Maison, El Harrach, Algiers, Algeria; Laboratoire de Recherche "Santé et Productions Animales", Ecole Nationale Supérieure Vétérinaire d'Alger, El Alia, Algiers, Algeria. Electronic address: drkardjadj@live.fr.
authors.forename: Moustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kardjadj
authors.affiliation: Institut National de Médecine Vétérinaire (INMV), Cinq Maison, El Harrach, Algiers, Algeria.
authors.forename: Brahim
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kouidri
authors.affiliation: Institut National de Médecine Vétérinaire (INMV), Cinq Maison, El Harrach, Algiers, Algeria.
authors.forename: Djamil
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Metref
authors.affiliation: Applied Biotechnology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, PMB 1, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Pam Dachung
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Luka
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Recherche "Santé et Productions Animales", Ecole Nationale Supérieure Vétérinaire d'Alger, El Alia, Algiers, Algeria.
authors.forename: Meriem Hind
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ben-Mahdi
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D000462:Algeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001819:Bluetongue / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D001820:Bluetongue virus / Q000502:physiology; D002002:Brucella / Q000502:physiology; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006041:Goats; D029021:Peste-des-Petits-Ruminants / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D018107:Peste-des-petits-ruminants virus / Q000502:physiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology
keywords: Abortion; Algeria; Goats; Risk factors; Serology; Sheep