Seroprevalence and risk factors for bluetongue virus Infection in ruminants in Northeastern Algeria

• Racha Ouachtati Chadli Bendjedid University, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Laboratory of Epidemiological surveillance, health, production and reproduction, experimentation and cell therapy of domestic and wild animals, PO Box 73,36000 El-Tarf, Algeria. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5468-2560
• Hassane Benseghir University of Batna 2, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, 05078, Algeria. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7219-3321
• Abdennour Azizi University of Batna 1, Veterinary Sciences and Agricultural Sciences Institute, Department of Veterinary Science, 05000, Algeria. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6214-9298
• Leila Aoun Chadli Bendjedid University, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Laboratory of Epidemiological surveillance, health, production and reproduction, experimentation and cell therapy of domestic and wild animals, PO Box 73,36000 El-Tarf, Algeria. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5213-6653
• Mourad Zeghdoudi Chadli Bendjedid University, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Laboratory of Epidemiological surveillance, health, production and reproduction, experimentation and cell therapy of domestic and wild animals, PO Box 73,36000 El-Tarf, Algeria. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3125-8234
• Samir Laib Chadli Bendjedid University, Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Laboratory of Epidemiological surveillance, health, production and reproduction, experimentation and cell therapy of domestic and wild animals, PO Box 73,36000 El-Tarf, Algeria. https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7020-4925
• Dounia Ouachtati Mohamed-Cherif Messaadia University - Souk Ahras, Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Sciences, BP 41000, Souk-Ahras, Algeria. https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6519-1958

DOI: https://doi.org/10.52973/rcfcv-e362860

Keywords: Algeria, bluetongue, seroprevalence, ELISA, risk factors

Abstract

Bluetongue disease is a vector-borne viral infection caused by bluetongue virus, an Orbivirus of the Reoviridae family. Bluetongue virus primarily affects domestic and wild ruminants, with sheep showing the highest clinical susceptibility, followed by goats and cattle. The virus is transmitted by hematophagous Culicoides midges. This cross-sectional study assessed bluetongue virus seroprevalence and identified associated risk factors in sheep, goats, and cattle across three provinces (wilayas) in northeastern Algeria. Between March 2024 and April 2025, serum samples (n = 380) were collected and analyzed using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The overall bluetongue virus seroprevalence was 54.74 % (208/380). Species-specific seroprevalence rates were highest in goats (73.91 %, 68/92), followed by cattle (73.27 %, 74/101) and sheep (35.29 %, 66/187). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations between bluetongue virus seropositivity and animal species (P < 0.001), geographic location (P < 0.05), and sampling season (P < 0.05). Compared to sheep, cattle showed seven-fold higher odds of seropositivity (OR = 7.746, 95 % CI: 3.621-16.571), while goats demonstrated nine-fold higher odds (OR = 9.044, 95 % CI: 4.440-18.422). Animals sampled during winter exhibited significantly higher seropositivity rates (OR = 3.400, 95 % CI: 1.526-7.574). These findings indicate endemic bluetongue virus circulation in northeastern Algeria, with significant species and spatial variation requiring targeted surveillance and control strategies.

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