The Role of Ruminants as Sentinel Animals in the Circulation of the West Nile Virus in Tunisia
Outbreaks of the West Nile Virus (WNV) have increased significantly in recent years in the Mediterranean region, including Tunisia. To understand the risks for animal and human health and to mitigate the impact of future outbreaks, comprehensive viral surveillance in vertebrate hosts and vectors is...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Ahmed Ouni Hajer Aounallah Wafa Kammoun Rebai Francisco Llorente Walid Chendoul Walid Hammami Adel Rhim Miguel Ángel Jiménez-Clavero Elisa Pérez-Ramírez Ali Bouattour Youmna M’Ghirbi |
| author_facet | Ahmed Ouni Hajer Aounallah Wafa Kammoun Rebai Francisco Llorente Walid Chendoul Walid Hammami Adel Rhim Miguel Ángel Jiménez-Clavero Elisa Pérez-Ramírez Ali Bouattour Youmna M’Ghirbi |
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| description | Outbreaks of the West Nile Virus (WNV) have increased significantly in recent years in the Mediterranean region, including Tunisia. To understand the risks for animal and human health and to mitigate the impact of future outbreaks, comprehensive viral surveillance in vertebrate hosts and vectors is needed. We conducted the first serosurvey for the WNV in ruminants in southern Tunisia using the ELISA test and confirmed it with the micro-virus neutralization test (VNT). Antibodies were detected by the ELISA test in camels (38/112), sheep (9/155), and goats (7/58), and six samples were doubtful (five camels and one sheep). The ELISA positive and doubtful sera (<i>n</i> = 60) were further analyzed to confirm the presence of specific anti-WNV and anti-Usutu virus (USUV) antibodies using the micro-virus neutralization test (VNT). Out of the 60 sera, 33 were confirmed for specific WNV antibodies, with an overall seroprevalence of 10.15% [95% CI: 7.09–13.96]. The high seroprevalence observed in camels (22.3%) suggests their potential use as sentinel animals for WNV surveillance in southern Tunisia. The viral genome, and consequently active circulation, could not be detected by real-time RT-qPCR in blood samples. Ongoing surveillance of the WNV in animals, including camels, sheep, and goats, may be used for the early detection of viral circulation and for a rapid response to mitigate potential outbreaks in horses and humans. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-23ac6990dd3d4c0f8ad8a2ea15a95b23 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj-art-23ac6990dd3d4c0f8ad8a2ea15a95b232025-08-20T02:42:28ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-03-0114326710.3390/pathogens14030267The Role of Ruminants as Sentinel Animals in the Circulation of the West Nile Virus in TunisiaAhmed Ouni0Hajer Aounallah1Wafa Kammoun Rebai2Francisco Llorente3Walid Chendoul4Walid Hammami5Adel Rhim6Miguel Ángel Jiménez-Clavero7Elisa Pérez-Ramírez8Ali Bouattour9Youmna M’Ghirbi10Laboratoire des Virus, Vecteurs et Hôtes (LR20IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, TunisiaLaboratoire des Virus, Vecteurs et Hôtes (LR20IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, TunisiaMedical Research Direction, Ministry of Health, Tunis 1006, TunisiaCentro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, Valdeolmos, 28130 Madrid, SpainCirconscription of Animal Production of Ben Guerdane, Médenine 4160, TunisiaLaboratoire des Virus, Vecteurs et Hôtes (LR20IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, TunisiaLaboratoire des Virus, Vecteurs et Hôtes (LR20IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, TunisiaCentro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, Valdeolmos, 28130 Madrid, SpainCentro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal (CISA-INIA), CSIC, Valdeolmos, 28130 Madrid, SpainLaboratoire des Virus, Vecteurs et Hôtes (LR20IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, TunisiaLaboratoire des Virus, Vecteurs et Hôtes (LR20IPT02), Institut Pasteur de Tunis, Université Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1002, TunisiaOutbreaks of the West Nile Virus (WNV) have increased significantly in recent years in the Mediterranean region, including Tunisia. To understand the risks for animal and human health and to mitigate the impact of future outbreaks, comprehensive viral surveillance in vertebrate hosts and vectors is needed. We conducted the first serosurvey for the WNV in ruminants in southern Tunisia using the ELISA test and confirmed it with the micro-virus neutralization test (VNT). Antibodies were detected by the ELISA test in camels (38/112), sheep (9/155), and goats (7/58), and six samples were doubtful (five camels and one sheep). The ELISA positive and doubtful sera (<i>n</i> = 60) were further analyzed to confirm the presence of specific anti-WNV and anti-Usutu virus (USUV) antibodies using the micro-virus neutralization test (VNT). Out of the 60 sera, 33 were confirmed for specific WNV antibodies, with an overall seroprevalence of 10.15% [95% CI: 7.09–13.96]. The high seroprevalence observed in camels (22.3%) suggests their potential use as sentinel animals for WNV surveillance in southern Tunisia. The viral genome, and consequently active circulation, could not be detected by real-time RT-qPCR in blood samples. Ongoing surveillance of the WNV in animals, including camels, sheep, and goats, may be used for the early detection of viral circulation and for a rapid response to mitigate potential outbreaks in horses and humans.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/3/267West Nile VirusserosurveycELISAVNTRT-qPCRruminants |
| spellingShingle | Ahmed Ouni Hajer Aounallah Wafa Kammoun Rebai Francisco Llorente Walid Chendoul Walid Hammami Adel Rhim Miguel Ángel Jiménez-Clavero Elisa Pérez-Ramírez Ali Bouattour Youmna M’Ghirbi The Role of Ruminants as Sentinel Animals in the Circulation of the West Nile Virus in Tunisia Pathogens West Nile Virus serosurvey cELISA VNT RT-qPCR ruminants |
| title | The Role of Ruminants as Sentinel Animals in the Circulation of the West Nile Virus in Tunisia |
| title_full | The Role of Ruminants as Sentinel Animals in the Circulation of the West Nile Virus in Tunisia |
| title_fullStr | The Role of Ruminants as Sentinel Animals in the Circulation of the West Nile Virus in Tunisia |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Role of Ruminants as Sentinel Animals in the Circulation of the West Nile Virus in Tunisia |
| title_short | The Role of Ruminants as Sentinel Animals in the Circulation of the West Nile Virus in Tunisia |
| title_sort | role of ruminants as sentinel animals in the circulation of the west nile virus in tunisia |
| topic | West Nile Virus serosurvey cELISA VNT RT-qPCR ruminants |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/3/267 |
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