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Rift Valley fever (RVF) has been reported in the sub-Saharan region of Africa, Egypt and Arabian Peninsula - Yemen and Saudi Arabia, over the past 20 years and is a threat to both the animal and human populations in Tunisia. Tunisia is considered as a high-risk country for the introduction of RVF due to the informal movements of diseased animals already reported in the neighboring countries. The objective of this study was to assess the status of RVF in small ruminants and camels in Tunisia. A risk-based serological survey was conducted to evaluate the presence of RVF based on spatial qualitative risk analysis (SQRA). Samples were collected from small ruminants (sheep and goats) (n = 1,114), and camels (n = 173) samples, belonging to 18 breeders in 14 governorates between November 2017 and January 2018. Samples were tested using an RVF specific multispecies competitive ELISA. Out of the 1,287 samples tested for the presence of RVF IgG antibodies by ELISA, only one positive sample 0.07% (1/1 287) was detected but not confirmed with the virus neutralization test (VNT) used for confirmation. So far, no RVF outbreaks have been reported in Tunisia and our study confirmed the absence of RVF in livestock up to January 2018. Further investigations are needed to confirm the RVF-free status of Tunisia today.

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Background Bluetongue (BT), a vector‐borne disease of wild and domestic ruminants, is responsible for severe economic losses in flocks. To reduce this impact, a surveillance and control plan was implemented in Tunisia. However, the epidemiological situation of BT remains incompletely understood, especially for the circulating serotypes. Objective The aim of this survey was to determine the seroprevalence, to identify the circulating serotypes and to identify the associated risk factors for bluetongue virus (BTV) circulation in Tunisia using risk‐based sampling (RBS). Methods A total of 3314 blood samples were randomly collected from 67 sectors using risk‐based sampling and screened by competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (c‐ELISAs). Out of the 1330 positive samples, 200 samples were analysed by serum neutralization test (SNT) to identify circulating BTV serotypes. Results Of 3314 sera, 1330 were c‐ELISA‐positive (40.1%) for antibodies against the BTV structural protein VP7. The result of SNT showed the presence of BTV‐1, BTV‐2, BTV‐3, BTV‐4 and, for the first time in Tunisia, BTV‐26. The logistic regression model revealed that older animals had nearly two times the odds of being infected with BTV compared to younger animals. Flocks with a history of BT were almost 1.5 times more likely to be at risk for contracting BTV infection. The flock size, housing indoors and intensive production system were significant protective factors. Conclusions High seroprevalence of BTV among sheep was highlighted in Tunisia. The neutralization test showed the presence of the following BTV serotypes: BTV‐1, BTV‐2, BTV‐3, BTV‐4 and, for the first time in Tunisia, BTV‐26. Age, production system and flock size were important variables associated with BTV infection in sheep. This finding is crucial, as it will allow the adjustment of the BT control programme in Tunisia.

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