Publications by authors named "B J Bett"
Background: African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a significant reservoir host for many zoonotic and parasitic infections in Africa. These include a range of viruses and pathogenic bacteria, such as tick-borne rickettsial organisms. Despite the considerations of mammalian blood as a sterile environment, blood microbiome sequencing could become crucial for agnostic biosurveillance.
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- CCHF is a tick-borne disease caused by the CCHF virus, affecting various hosts like mammals and birds, with a study conducted in Isiolo County, Kenya, assessing its prevalence across humans, livestock, and wildlife.
- The study found CCHFV seroprevalences of 7.2% in humans, significant rates in livestock (e.g., 89.7% in camels), and an average of 41.0% in wild animals, indicating widespread exposure among different species.
- Human exposure was linked to being male, over 30 years old, and part of a seropositive household, while livestock exposure was affected by factors like age and environmental conditions, though wild animal risk factors were not statistically
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- Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a mosquito-transmitted RNA virus that causes Rift Valley fever, primarily affecting livestock in Africa and the Middle East.
- This study analyzed 691 serum samples from cattle, goats, and sheep in Kenya, finding that 29.67% tested positive for RVFV, with the highest prevalence in sheep.
- Despite detecting positive samples and obtaining whole genome sequences, the study found no evidence of genetic recombination or reassortment, suggesting that other factors might contribute to changes in the virus's virulence and emergence of new strains.
Introduction: Understanding multi-pathogen infections/exposures in livestock is critical to inform prevention and control measures against infectious diseases. We investigated the co-exposure of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), spp., spp.
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- - Rift Valley fever (RVF) was first confirmed in Rwanda's livestock in 2012, with significant outbreaks occurring in 2018 and 2022, showcasing its ongoing presence in the region.
- - Genetic analysis of virus samples from these outbreaks revealed that a single lineage, C, was responsible, with connections to previous outbreaks in Uganda and East Africa.
- - Detection of the RVFV Clone 13 vaccine strain in slaughterhouse animals suggests an occupational risk for workers in the meat industry, highlighting the need for a collaborative One Health approach to manage RVF outbreaks.