AI Article Synopsis
- - The study analyzed the presence of West Nile virus (WNV) in horses and donkeys across 15 provinces in Bulgaria, testing 378 serum samples for antibodies using ELISA and confirming results with the virus neutralization test (VNT).
- - Out of the samples tested, 9.26% were ELISA-positive for WNV, with a seroprevalence of 3.97% confirmed by VNT; no Usutu virus was detected in these animals.
- - The research identified several risk factors for WNV seropositivity, including location, altitude, type of housing, and breed, suggesting that equids could serve as indicators for WNV and potential human case prediction in Bulgaria.
Article Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze the seroprevalence of West Nile virus (WNV) among equids in Bulgaria, confirm the results of a competitive ELISA versus the virus neutralization test (VNT) and investigate some predisposing factors for WNV seropositivity. A total of 378 serum samples from 15 provinces in northern and southern Bulgaria were tested. The samples originated from 314 horses and 64 donkeys, 135 males and 243 females, aged from 1 to 30 years. IgG and IgM antibodies against WNV protein E were detected by ELISA. ELISA-positive samples were additionally tested via VNT for WNV and Usutu virus. Thirty-five samples were WNV-positive by ELISA (9.26% [CI = 6.45-12.88]), of which 15 were confirmed by VNT; hence, the seroprevalence was 3.97% (CI = 2.22-6.55). No virus-neutralizing antibodies to Usutu virus were detected among the 35 WNV-ELISA-positive equids in Bulgaria. When compared with VNT, ELISA showed 100.0% sensitivity and 94.5% specificity. A statistical analysis showed that the risk factors associated with WNV seropositivity were the region ( < 0.0001), altitude of the locality ( < 0.0001), type of housing ( < 0.0001) and breed ( = 0.0365). The results of the study demonstrate, albeit indirectly, that WNV circulates among equids in northern and southern Bulgaria, indicating that they could be suitable sentinel animals for predicting human cases and determining the risk in these areas or regions of the country.
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| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11126025 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11050209 | DOI Listing |
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Article Synopsis
- - The study analyzed the presence of West Nile virus (WNV) in horses and donkeys across 15 provinces in Bulgaria, testing 378 serum samples for antibodies using ELISA and confirming results with the virus neutralization test (VNT).
- - Out of the samples tested, 9.26% were ELISA-positive for WNV, with a seroprevalence of 3.97% confirmed by VNT; no Usutu virus was detected in these animals.
- - The research identified several risk factors for WNV seropositivity, including location, altitude, type of housing, and breed, suggesting that equids could serve as indicators for WNV and potential human case prediction in Bulgaria.
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