title: Emerging vector-borne diseases in dromedaries in Tunisia: West Nile, bluetongue, epizootic haemorrhagic disease and Rift Valley fever.
abstract: A total of 118 sera were collected during 2016 from two groups of dromedaries from Kebili and Medenine governorates in the south of Tunisia. The aim of this study was to provide the first serological investigation of four emerging vector-borne diseases in two groups of dromedaries in Tunisia. Sera were tested by ELISA and serum neutralisation test to identify West Nile virus (WNV), bluetongue virus (BTV), epizootic haemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV). In the first group, the seroprevalence for BTV was 4.6%, while in the second group, it was 25.8% for WNV and 9.7% for BTV. Only serotype 1 was detected for BTV in the two groups. No evidence for circulation of RVF and EHD viruses was revealed. Results indicated that dromedaries can be infected with BTV and WNV, suggesting that this species might play a significant role in the epizootiology of these viral diseases in Tunisia and neighbouring countries.
authors.forename: Thameur B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Hassine
authors.affiliation: Université Tunis El Manar, Institut de la Recherche Vétérinaire de Tunisie. jihrad87@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jihane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Amdouni
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monaco
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Savini
authors.forename: Soufien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sghaier
authors.forename: Imed B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Selimen
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chandoul
authors.forename: Khaled B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Hamida
authors.forename: Salah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hammami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001819:Bluetongue / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002162:Camelus; D018164:Hemorrhagic Disease Virus, Epizootic; D012088:Reoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012295:Rift Valley Fever / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology