Ruminant pestiviruses in North Africa

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Virology
• Epidemiology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Ruminant pestiviruses cause significant economic losses globally.
• Limited data exists on pestivirus prevalence in North African livestock.
• Ruminant production is a key economic sector in North Africa.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess Pestivirus presence in Algerian cattle.
• To review existing data on ruminant pestiviruses in North Africa.
• To identify risk factors for Pestivirus infection in cattle.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study on 31 dairy herds in North-Western Algeria.
• Serological analysis using commercial iELISA for antibodies.
• Molecular detection of Pestivirus RNA via Reverse Transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and sequencing.
• Systematic literature review for North African pestivirus data.

Main Results:

• High seroprevalence of 59.9% at the population level and 93.5% at the farm level.
• Identified presence of Bovine viral diarrhea virus 1a (BVDV-1a) in Algerian cattle.
• Risk factors included co-habitation with sheep and animal category (cow vs. heifer).

Conclusions:

• Pestivirus infection appears endemic in Algerian livestock, consistent with regional data.
• Urgent need for further research on epidemiology and molecular diversity in North African livestock and wildlife.
• Addressing knowledge gaps is crucial for animal health and conservation efforts.