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Co-Circulation of Multiple Serotypes of Bluetongue Virus in Zambia

2020; Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute; Volume: 12; Issue: 9 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3390/v12090963

1999-4915

Herman M. Chambaro, Michihito Sasaki, Edgar Simulundu, Isaac Silwamba, Yona Sinkala, Gabriel González, David Squarre, Paul Fandamu, Caesar H. Lubaba, Musso Munyeme, Alikhadio Maseko, Choopa Chimvwele, Liywalii Mataa, Lynnfield E. Mooya, Andrew Nalishuwa Mukubesa, Hayato Harima, K.L. Samui, Hetron Mweemba Munang’andu, Martin Simuunza, King S. Nalubamba, Yongjin Qiu, Michael J. Carr, William W. Hall, Yuki Eshita, Hirofumi Sawa, Yasuko Orba,

Viral Infections and Vectors

Bluetongue (BT) is an arthropod-borne viral disease of ruminants with serious trade and socio-economic implications. Although the disease has been reported in a number of countries in sub-Saharan Africa, there is currently no information on circulating serotypes and disease distribution in Zambia. Following surveillance for BT in domestic and wild ruminants in Zambia, BT virus (BTV) nucleic acid and antibodies were detected in eight of the 10 provinces of the country. About 40% (87/215) of pooled blood samples from cattle and goats were positive for BTV nucleic acid, while one hartebeest pool (1/43) was positive among wildlife samples. Sequence analysis of segment 2 revealed presence of serotypes 3, 5, 7, 12 and 15, with five nucleotypes (B, E, F, G and J) being identified. Segment 10 phylogeny showed Zambian BTV sequences clustering with Western topotype strains from South Africa, intimating likely transboundary spread of BTV in Southern Africa. Interestingly, two Zambian viruses and one isolate from Israel formed a novel clade, which we designated as Western topotype 4. The high seroprevalence (96.2%) in cattle from Lusaka and Central provinces and co-circulation of multiple serotypes showed that BT is widespread, underscoring the need for prevention and control strategies.