title: Serological and genomic evidence of Rift Valley fever virus during inter-epidemic periods in Mauritania.
abstract: Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an emerging pathogen of major concern throughout Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, affecting both livestock and humans. In the past recurrent epidemics were reported in Mauritania and studies focused on the analysis of samples from affected populations during acute outbreaks. To verify characteristics and presence of RVFV during non-epidemic periods we implemented a multi-stage serological and molecular analysis. Serum samples of small ruminants, cattle and camels were obtained from Mauritania during an inter-epidemic period in 2012-2013. This paper presents a comparative analysis of potential variations and shifts of antibody presence and the capability of inter-epidemic infections in Mauritanian livestock. We observed distinct serological differences between tested species (seroprevalence: small ruminants 3·8%, cattle 15·4%, camels 32·0%). In one single bovine from Nouakchott, a recent RVF infection could be identified by the simultaneous detection of IgM antibodies and viral RNA. This study indicates the occurrence of a low-level enzootic RVFV circulation in livestock in Mauritania. Moreover, results indicate that small ruminants can preferably act as sentinels for RVF surveillance.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut,Greifswald - Insel Riems,Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rissmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut,Greifswald - Insel Riems,Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eiden
authors.affiliation: Service de Pathologie Infectieuses,Centre National de l'Elevage et de Recherches Vétérinaires (CNERV),Nouakchott,Mauritania.
authors.forename: B O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: El Mamy
authors.affiliation: Service de Pathologie Infectieuses,Centre National de l'Elevage et de Recherches Vétérinaires (CNERV),Nouakchott,Mauritania.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Isselmou
authors.affiliation: Ministère du développement rural,Nouakchott,Mauritania.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Doumbia
authors.affiliation: Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut,Greifswald - Insel Riems,Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut,Greifswald - Insel Riems,Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Homeier-Bachmann
authors.affiliation: Service de Pathologie Infectieuses,Centre National de l'Elevage et de Recherches Vétérinaires (CNERV),Nouakchott,Mauritania.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yahya
authors.affiliation: Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut,Greifswald - Insel Riems,Germany.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Groschup
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D058872:Epidemics; D008435:Mauritania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D012295:Rift Valley Fever / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012296:Rift Valley fever virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012418:Ruminants; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D012367:RNA, Viral
keywords: Epidemiology; Rift Valley fever; serology; viral haemorrhagic fever; zoonoses