Hamid souriau biography of donald

Abstract

Background

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever, and Rift Valley fever virus are two under-researched zoonotic pathogens in Ethiopia. Potential outbreaks of these diseases, in light of the high dependency of nomadic pastoralists on their livestock, poses a risk to both human and animal health in addition to risking the pastoralists livelihoods. Our study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and associated risk factors for Q fever and Rift Valley fever in pastoral communities in the Afar region of north-eastern Ethiopia.

Methodology/Principal findings

This cross-sectional study screened pastoralists (n = ) and their livestock (n = ) for IgG antibodies to Coxiella burnetii and Rift Valley fever virus. A seroprevalence for Q fever of % (95%CI –) was found in pastoralists and % (95%CI –) in livestock overall; with % in goats (95%CI –), % in sheep (95%CI –), % in camels (95%CI –) and % in cattle (95%CI –). For Rift Valley fever the seroprevalence in pastoralists was % (95%CI –) and % (95%CI –) in livestock overall; cattle had the highest seroprevalence (%, 95%CI –), followed by goats (%; 95%CI –), sheep (%; 95%CI –) and camels (%; 95%CI –). Human Q fever seropositivity was found to be associated with goat abortions (OR = , 95%CI –, p = ), while Rift V

•