Seroprevalence and risk factors of bluetongue virus in sheep of Chattogram, Bangladesh

Research (Published online: 30-06-2022)

24. Seroprevalence and risk factors of bluetongue virus in sheep of Chattogram, Bangladesh

Tahura Khanam Munmun, Shariful Islam, Shafayat Zamil, Md. Ashiqur Rahman, Josefina Abedin, Abdul Ahad and Ariful Islam

Veterinary World, 15(6): 1589-1594

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Bluetongue (BT) is a non-contagious, infectious disease of wild and domestic ruminant animals caused by the BT virus (BTV). Bangladesh having a border with a BTV-endemic country, India and a substantial number of susceptible animals. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate BTV seroprevalence and potential risk factors.

Materials and Methods: We collected 150 serum samples from indigenous sheep from Chattogram, Bangladesh. We screened the serum samples using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting BTV-specific immunoglobulin.

Results: We detected antibodies against BTV in 39.3% (59/150; 95% confidence interval: 31.5–47.6) of all sampled sheep. Factors like sampling site, sheep rearing location, rearing sheep with other farm species, and body condition score had a significant (p < 0.05) influence on the seroprevalence of BTV.

Conclusion: The findings show that indigenous sheep have a higher BTV seroprevalence, necessitating sustained surveillance for early diagnosis and a better understanding of virus epidemiology in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Bangladesh, bluetongue virus, risk factors, seroprevalence, sheep.