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Jacob-Ferreira J, Coelho AC, Grau Vila A, Lacasta D, Quintas H. Small Ruminant Lentivirus Infection in Sheep and Goats in North Portugal: Seroprevalence and Risk Factors. Pathogens 2023; 12:829. [PMID: 37375519 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12060829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) are transmitted among ovine and caprine species. This disease is a severe problem for small ruminant production, not only for animals' well-being but also for flocks' efficiency. The main aim of this research was to quantify the seroprevalence and associated risk factors for SRLV infection in the northern region of Portugal. Samples were collected from a total of 150 flocks, of which 129 (86.0%; 95% CI: 80.67%-91.33%) had at least one seropositive animal. Out of 2607 individual blood samples, 1074 (41.2%) were positive for SRLVs. Risk factors associated with SRLV infection were species (caprine), age (>2 years old), flock size (>100 animals), production system (intensive), food production system (milk), type of activity (professional), participation in livestock competitions (yes), replacement young ewe bought (yes), and natural feeding management (yes). This knowledge empowers the implementation of effective preventive measures. Overall, biosecurity measures should be promoted and implemented with the main aim of reducing viral transmission and reducing the prevalence of this disease. We recognise that government authorities should promote and audit voluntary control and eradication programs in small ruminant flocks in the region studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Jacob-Ferreira
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Mountain Research Center (CIMO), Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB), Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - Ana Cláudia Coelho
- Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ana Grau Vila
- Servicio de Sanidad Animal, Dirección General de Producción Agropecuaria e Infraestructuras Agrarias, Consejería de Agricultura y Ganadería, Junta de Castilla y León, 47014 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Delia Lacasta
- Animal Pathology Department, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, Veterinary Faculty of Zaragoza C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Hélder Quintas
- Mountain Research Center (CIMO), Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB), Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
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Kaba J, Czopowicz M, Kuźmak J, Olech M, Witkowski L, Moroz-Fik A, Mickiewicz M, Biernacka K, Nalbert T, Bereznowski A, Szaluś-Jordanow O, Potârniche AV, Spinu M, Markowska-Daniel I, Bagnicka E. A large-scale study on the seroprevalence of small ruminant lentiviral infection in the Polish goat population. Prev Vet Med 2023; 213:105885. [PMID: 36889196 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2023.105885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
A large-scale study was carried out in a Polish goat population in 2014-2022 to determine the herd-level (between-herd) and within-herd seroprevalence of small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) infection. A total of 8354 adult goats (aged >1 year) from 165 herds located in various regions of Poland were serologically tested using a commercial ELISA. One hundred twenty eight herds were randomly selected while 37 were enrolled based on convenience non-random sampling. At least 1 seropositive result was obtained in 103 / 165 herds. For all these herds the probability that they were truly positive (herd-level positive predictive value) was calculated. It was ≥ 90% in 91 seropositive herds and 73% to < 90% in 12 herds in which only 1-4 goats were seropositive (22 goats in total). The seropositive goats in the latter herds were retested using a different commercial ELISA and 14 goats (9 males and 5 females) from 9 herds were confirmed to be seropositive (serial testing). The true herd-level seroprevalence was estimated at 61% (95% confidence interval [CI 95%]: 53%-68%). It differed significantly between herd size classes (p = 0.003): the highest prevalences were found in the medium (51 - 100 adult goats) and large herds (>100 adult goats) - 72% (CI 95%: 56-84%) and 86% (CI 95%: 67%-95%), respectively, while prevalences in very small (≤ 20 adult goats) and small herds (21 - 50 adult goats) were 46% (CI 95%: 34%-59%) and 57% (CI 95%: 43%-70%), respectively. The true herd-level seroprevalence differed significantly also between geographical regions of Poland (p = 0.003), with the highest values in the north-western and the lowest in the southern region of the country. The true within-herd seroprevalence estimated using a Bayesian approach ranged from 0.7% to 100% with the median (IQR) of 42% (17%-84%), and did not vary significantly between herd size classes (p = 0.393) or geographical regions of Poland (p = 0.570). Concluding, SRLV infection is widespread in the Polish goat population, the north-western region of Poland is most extensively infected, and herds counting > 50 adult goats are more often infected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarosław Kaba
- Division of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michał Czopowicz
- Division of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Jacek Kuźmak
- Department of Biochemistry, National Veterinary Research Institute, Al. Partyzantów 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
| | - Monika Olech
- Department of Pathology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Al. Partyzantów 57, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
| | - Lucjan Witkowski
- Division of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agata Moroz-Fik
- Division of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marcin Mickiewicz
- Division of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kinga Biernacka
- Division of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz Nalbert
- Division of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Bereznowski
- Division of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Olga Szaluś-Jordanow
- Department of Small Animal Diseases with Clinic, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Adrian-Valentin Potârniche
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Manastur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Marina Spinu
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Manastur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Iwona Markowska-Daniel
- Division of Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Nowoursynowska 159c, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Emilia Bagnicka
- Institute of Genetics and Animal Biotechnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Postępu 36A, Jastrzębiec, 05-552 Magdalenka, Poland
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Genetic Characterization of Small Ruminant Lentiviruses (SRLVs) Circulating in Naturally Infected Sheep in Central Italy. Viruses 2022; 14:v14040686. [PMID: 35458416 PMCID: PMC9032261 DOI: 10.3390/v14040686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) represent a very heterogeneous group of ss-RNA viruses that infect sheep and goats worldwide. They cause important, deleterious effects on animal production and limit the animal trade. SRLVs show a high genetic variability due to high mutation rate and frequent recombination events. Indeed, five genotypes (A–E) and several subtypes have been detected. The aim of this work was to genetically characterize SRLVs circulating in central Italy. On this basis, a phylogenetic study on the gag-pol genetic region of 133 sheep, collected from 19 naturally infected flocks, was conducted. In addition, to evaluate the frequency of mutation and the selective pressure on this region, a WebLogo 3 analysis was performed, and the dN/dS ratio was computed. The results showed that 26 samples out of 133 were clustered in genotype A and 106 samples belonged to genotype B, as follows: A9 (n = 8), A11 (n = 10), A24 (n = 7), B1 (n = 2), B2 (n = 59), and B3 (n = 45). No recombination events were found. Mutations were localized mainly in the VR-2 region, and the dN/dS ratio of 0.028 indicated the existence of purifying selection. Since the genetic diversity of SRLVs could make serological identification difficult, it is important to perform molecular characterization to ensure a more reliable diagnosis, to maintain flock health status, and for the application of local and national control programs.
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