Serological evidence of single and mixed infections of Rift Valley fever virus, Brucella spp. and Coxiella burnetii in dromedary camels in Kenya

Abstract

Camels are increasingly becoming the livestock of choice for pastoralists reeling from effects of climate change in semi-arid and arid parts of Kenya. As the population of camels rises, better understanding of their role in the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases in Kenya is a public health priority. Rift Valley fever (RVF), brucellosis and Q fever are three of the top priority diseases in the country but the involvement of camels in the transmission dynamics of these diseases is poorly understood. We analyzed 120 camel serum samples from northern Kenya to establish seropositivity rates of the three pathogens and to characterize the infecting Brucella species using molecular assays. We found seropositivity of 24.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 16.5–31.8%) for Brucella, 20.8% (95% CI: 13.6–28.1%) and 14.2% (95% CI: 7.9–20.4%) for Coxiella burnetii and Rift valley fever virus respectively. We found 27.5% (95% CI: 19.5–35.5%) of the animals were seropositive for at least one pathogen and 13.3% (95% CI: 7.2–19.4%) were seropositive for at least two pathogens. B. melitensis was the only Brucella spp. detected. The high sero-positivity rates are indicative of the endemicity of these pathogens among camel populations and the possible role the species has in the epidemiology of zoonotic diseases. Considering the strong association between human infection and contact with livestock for most zoonotic infections in Kenya, there is immediate need to conduct further research to determine the role of camels in transmission of these zoonoses to other livestock species and humans. This information will be useful for designing more effective surveillance systems and intervention measures.

Survey of antibodies to Rift Valley fever virus and associated risk factors in one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) slaughtered in Maiduguri abattoir, Borno State, Nigeria

“…The analysis of the possible risk factors of the disease showed no statistically signi cant association between the presence of antibodies to the virus and the sex of the camels. This is in contrast with the previous report by Muturi et al, (2021) that reported a signi cant association between infection and sex of camel in Kenya. This disparity may be due to differences in climatic zones and husbandry practices in the two study areas.…”

“…This disparity may be due to differences in climatic zones and husbandry practices in the two study areas. The study showed that age was a signi cant risk factor for the presence of antibodies and this agrees with previous reports from Kenya (Muturi et al, 2021) and Sudan (Abdallah et al, 2016). This may be because the older camels, having spent a long time in the environment might have been exposed to greater risk when compared to young (Abdallah et al, 2016;Selmi et al, 2020).…”

“…This may be because the older camels, having spent a long time in the environment might have been exposed to greater risk when compared to young (Abdallah et al, 2016;Selmi et al, 2020). The study showed that the source or locality of the camel was a signi cant risk factor for exposure to the virus and this also agrees with previous reports from Kenya (Muturi et al, 2021) and Sudan (Abdallah et al, 2016). This may be explained by the fact that RVF is a vector-borne disease that occurs in speci c ecologies, meaning that camels from different locations have varying exposure rates to different factor in uencing the occurrence of the disease (Ikegami and Makino, 2011).…”

Viromes and surveys of RNA viruses in camel-derived ticks revealing transmission patterns of novel tick-borne viral pathogens in Kenya

“…Camels are one of the major livestock animals important for agriculture and tourism in Kenya and could be a natural reservoir of viral pathogens [ 44 , 45 ]. Camel handlers, such as livestock farmers, traders, and butchers, may be at high risk of infectious diseases caused by camel-derived viruses.…”

Sero-epidemiological survey of Coxiella burnetii in livestock and humans in Tana River and Garissa counties in Kenya

“…Co-infections of Q fever with other zoonotic agents such as Brucella spp. and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) are also common in animals; this could exacerbate the health outcomes of infected animals since these pathogens cause similar reproductive problems such as abortions [ 26 ].…”