Role of Wild Ruminants in Bluetongue Virus Epidemiology in Spain
Author Information
Author(s): García-Bocanegra Ignacio, Arenas-Montes Antonio, Lorca-Oró Cristina, Pujols Joan, González Miguel Ángel, Napp Sebastián, Gómez-Guillamón Félix, Zorrilla Irene, Miguel Elena San, Arenas Antonio
Primary Institution: Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, UCO
Hypothesis
What is the role of wild ruminants in the transmission and maintenance of bluetongue virus in Spain?
Conclusion
Wild ruminants are implicated in the dissemination and persistence of bluetongue virus in Spain.
Supporting Evidence
- 35.3% of wild ruminants analyzed showed antibodies against bluetongue virus.
- BTV RNA was detected in 2.1% of tested wild ruminants.
- Seroprevalence increased in the majority of provinces between 2008/2009 and 2010/2011.
Takeaway
This study found that wild animals like deer can carry a virus that affects livestock, even when there are no reported outbreaks in farm animals.
Methodology
A serologic and virologic survey was conducted on wild ruminants in Andalusia from 2006 to 2010, analyzing blood and spleen samples for antibodies and viral RNA.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the inability to analyze some samples due to cytotoxicity.
Limitations
The study could not record the ages of 327 animals and the sexes of 382, which may affect the results.
Participant Demographics
Wild ruminants including red deer, roe deer, fallow deer, and mouflon were analyzed.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.04
Confidence Interval
32.7-37.9
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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