West Nile virus (WNV) is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes to equids and has a zoonotic impact on humans. Although the WNV infection was reported in many countries in the Middle East; a little is known about its prevalence in equine populations in Egypt for the last three decades. We have carried out serosurvey on 400 horses and 150 donkeys in five governorates located in northern Egypt. Antibodies against WNV were found in 83 samples (seroprevalence 20.7%) in horses and 19 (seroprevalence 12.7%) in donkeys. Some risk factors for seropositivity to WNV infection in Egypt as the breed, age, and sex of horses were identified; it is more prevalent among gelding, mixed breed, and the middle age of horses. The infection could be attributed to the absence of control measures or vaccine programs besides the suitable habitat which enhances vector bioavailability. This study revealed the circulation of WNV in northern Egypt; as a result, there is a potential risk of exposure to human populations and there is a necessity for further
assessment of the disease circumstances in the upcoming years in Egypt to control
it. |
