Exploiting serological data to understand the epidemiology of bluetongue virus serotypes circulating in Libya

• Published in: Veterinary medicine and science Vol. 5; no. 1; pp. 79 - 86
• Main Authors: Mahmoud, Abduslam S., Savini, Giovanni, Spedicato, Massimo, Monaco, Federica, Carmine, Irene, Lorusso, Alessio, Francesco, Tolari, Mazzei, Maurizio, Forzan, Mario, Eldaghayes, Ibrahim, Dayhum, Abdunaser
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.02.2019; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Age; Animals; Bluetongue; Bluetongue - epidemiology; Bluetongue - virology; Bluetongue virus - classification; BTV‐26; BTV‐3; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - epidemiology; Cattle Diseases - virology; Disease; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Epidemiology; Female; Goat Diseases - epidemiology; Goat Diseases - virology; Goats; Immunization; Immunoglobulins; Infections; Libya; Libya - epidemiology; Male; Novel BTV serotypes; Original; Provinces; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serogroup; Serotypes; Sero‐prevalence; Sheep; Libya; Italy; Benghazi Libya; Mediterranean Area; Novel BTV serotypes; Sero-prevalence; BT; BTV-26; BTV-3; Libya
• ISSN: 2053-1095; 2053-1095
• DOI: 10.1002/vms3.136

The epidemiological patterns of Bluetongue (BT) in North Africa and Mediterranean Basin (MB) dramatically changed by emergence of subsequent episodes of novel bluetongue virus (BTV) serotypes with highly pathogenic indexes and socio‐economic impacts. The objective of the study was to investigate the sero‐prevalence and serotype distribution of BTV in Libya. During 2015‐2016, a total of 826 serum samples were collected from domestic ruminants in Libya. All sera were assayed by competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (c‐ELISA). C‐Elisa‐positive samples (43.3%; 173/400) were further analyzed by virus neutralization assay to identify BTV serotypes and determine the antibody titre of positive samples. An overall BTV sero‐prevalence was 48.4% (95% CI: 45.0%‐51.8%). Neutralizing antibodies were detected against the following BTV serotypes namely: BTV‐1, BTV‐2, BTV‐3, BTV‐4, BTV‐9 and BTV‐26. While BTV‐1, BTV‐2, BTV‐4 and BTV‐9 circulation was unsurprising as they have been responsible of the last year outbreaks in Northern African Countries, the detection of BTV‐3 and BTV‐26 was definitely new and concerning for the animal health of the countries facing the Mediterranean Basin. It is crucial that European and Northern African authorities collaborate in organizing common surveillance programmes to early detect novel strains or emerging serotypes in order to set up proper preventive measures, and, in case, develop specific vaccines and plan coordinated vaccination campaigns. This study is the first investigation on the sero‐prevalence and serotype distribution of BTV in Libya. In line with other Northern African countries, the obtained results (48.4%; 95% CI: 45.0–51.8%) in sheep, goats and cattle confirmed that, at least in the surveyed regions and provinces, BT is endemic in Libya. The results of this study are original and interesting offering precious and valuable information for the European and northern African Scientific communities.