Seroprevalence of Q Fever, Brucellosis, and Bluetongue in Selected Provinces in Lao People's Democratic Republic

Abstract

Abstract. This study has determined the proportional seropositivity of two zoonotic diseases, Q fever and brucellosis, and bluetongue virus (BTV) which is nonzoonotic, in five provinces of Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) (Loungphabang, Luangnumtha, Xayaboury, Xiengkhouang, and Champasak, and Vientiane Province and Vientiane capital). A total of 1,089 samples from buffalo, cattle, pigs, and goats were tested, with seropositivity of BTV (96.7%), Q fever (1.2%), and brucellosis (0.3%). The results of this survey indicated that Q fever seropositivity is not widely distributed in Lao PDR; however, Xayaboury Province had a cluster of seropositive cattle in seven villages in four districts (Botan, Kenthao, Paklaiy, and Phiang) that share a border with Thailand. Further studies are required to determine if Xayaboury Province is indeed an epidemiological hot spot of Q fever activity. There is an urgent need to determine the levels of economic loss and human health-related issues caused by Q fever, brucellosis, and BTV in Lao PDR. Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is a largely agricultural society with a reliance on livestock farming to sustain livelihoods.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Bluetongue Virus Infection in Tibetan Sheep and Yaks in Tibetan Plateau, China

“…This rate is higher than the 3.53% reported in yaks in Qinghai Province, China [7], and 9.3% among the domestic ruminants in Northern Kerala, India [3]. However, it is lower than the 27.9% prevalence reported in small ruminants in Nepal [2], 33.13% in sheep and goat in South Bengal [9], 43.68% in ruminants in Jharkhand, India [10], 45.20% among domestic ruminants in the highlands of Nepal [11], and 96.7% in buffaloes and cattle in selected provinces in Lao People's Democratic Republic [12]. Many factors, including the diagnostic methods, climatic conditions, geographical conditions, species/breeds, sample sizes, and sanitation, may contribute to such differences.…”

Serosurveillance of Coxiellosis (Q-fever) and Brucellosis in goats in selected provinces of Lao People’s Democratic Republic

“…C . burnetii seroprevalence studies in Laos have revealed the pathogen is not widely distributed in cattle, despite the likelihood of an epidemiological hotspot in the Thailand-bordered province of Xayaboury [ 12 , 13 ]. Thailand is a significant trading partner with Laos, and C .…”

Serological Investigation of Q Fever in Anatolian Buffaloes

“…Horton et al (2014) found that seropositivity rates of Q fever by ELISA were 4% (6/153) in buffaloes, 8% (14/174) in sheep and 70% (7/10) in camels. In another study (Douangngeun et al, 2016) found that in 526 cattle blood serum taken for serological screening of abort agents in different animal species by ELISA, only 13 (1.2%) cattle blood serums were detected as seropositive for Q fever while 426 pigs, 130 buffaloes, and 6 goat blood serum were all negative. In a recent study in which Q fever disease was searched serologically in sheep and buffaloes in Iran (Karami Mirazizi et al, 2017), 47 of 137 (34.3%) goat serum were detected as positive while all of 135 buffalo blood serum samples tested were found to be seronegative.…”

“…A large number of studies have been conducted in different countries to determine the Q Fever disease in various animal species (Horton et al, 2014;Douangngeun et al, 2016;Karami et al, 2017;Pradeep et al, 2017). Likewise, there are serological and molecular studies related to Q Fever in sheep, goats, cattle and humans in our country (Karaca et al, 2009;Gunaydın et al, 2014;Can et al, 2015; Cetinkol et al, 2017; Cıkman et al, 2017).…”

“…Likewise, there are serological and molecular studies related to Q Fever in sheep, goats, cattle and humans in our country (Karaca et al, 2009;Gunaydın et al, 2014;Can et al, 2015; Cetinkol et al, 2017; Cıkman et al, 2017). It has been reported in the studies (Nahed & Khaled, 2012;Vongxay et al, 2012;Horton et al, 2014;Douangngeun et al, 2016) to determine the serological prevalence of Q Fever in buffaloes in different countries, the seroprevalence of Q Fever vary between 0-34.5%. Although there are studies in our country about the detection of different diseases in buffaloes (Gulhan et al, 2016;Nuhay & Gulhan, 2017;Ak & Gulhan, 2018), the number of studies conducted in order to research of Q Fever disease (Payzın, 1953;Gunaydın & Pekkaya, 2016) are limited.…”