title: Seroprevalence of Q Fever, Brucellosis, and Bluetongue in Selected Provinces in Lao People's Democratic Republic.
abstract: This study has determined the proportional seropositivity of two zoonotic diseases, Q fever and brucellosis, and bluetongue virus (BTV) which is nonzoonotic, in five provinces of Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) (Loungphabang, Luangnumtha, Xayaboury, Xiengkhouang, and Champasak, and Vientiane Province and Vientiane capital). A total of 1,089 samples from buffalo, cattle, pigs, and goats were tested, with seropositivity of BTV (96.7%), Q fever (1.2%), and brucellosis (0.3%). The results of this survey indicated that Q fever seropositivity is not widely distributed in Lao PDR; however, Xayaboury Province had a cluster of seropositive cattle in seven villages in four districts (Botan, Kenthao, Paklaiy, and Phiang) that share a border with Thailand. Further studies are required to determine if Xayaboury Province is indeed an epidemiological hot spot of Q fever activity. There is an urgent need to determine the levels of economic loss and human health-related issues caused by Q fever, brucellosis, and BTV in Lao PDR.
authors.affiliation: National Animal Health Laboratory, Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic.
authors.forename: Bounlom
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Douangngeun
authors.affiliation: National Animal Health Laboratory, Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic.
authors.forename: Watthana
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Theppangna
authors.affiliation: National Animal Health Laboratory, Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic.
authors.forename: Vilayvahn
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Soukvilay
authors.affiliation: National Animal Health Laboratory, Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic.
authors.forename: Chanthana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Senaphanh
authors.affiliation: National Animal Health Laboratory, Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic.
authors.forename: Kamphok
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Phithacthep
authors.affiliation: National Animal Health Laboratory, Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic.
authors.forename: Souk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Phomhaksa
authors.affiliation: Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yingst
authors.affiliation: Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lombardini
authors.affiliation: Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hansson
authors.affiliation: Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Selleck
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Laboratory, Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic.|Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.|Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, Churchill Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Stuart D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Blacksell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001819:Bluetongue / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002007:Brucellosis, Bovine / Q000453:epidemiology; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000382:microbiology; D002417:Cattle / Q000382:microbiology; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006041:Goats / Q000382:microbiology; D007812:Laos / Q000453:epidemiology; D011778:Q Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013552:Swine / Q000382:microbiology; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology