Rift Valley Fever (RVF) causes considerable economic losses in ruminants through abortions and high neonatal mortality. This viral hemorrhagic fever is among the zoonotic conditions prioritized for control due to its high public health implication. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted to establish the relationship between sources of goats and RVF outbreaks. Serological results of 400 goats tested for RVF using competitive ELISA were retrieved from Arua Regional Laboratory, sampled goats traced back and the owners interviewed about the source of their goats.
The overall RVF seropositivity in goats was 9.5% (38/400); 95% CI 6.81 ± 12.81. Three sub-counties of Anyiribu, Rigbo and Odupi recorded the highest Rift Valley Fever seroprevalence in goats at 10.3%, 10.4% and 14.3% respectively. Rift Valley Fever spatial distribution was heterogeneous in the two districts of Terego and Madi Okollo and the three sub-counties of Anyiribu, Rigbo and Odupi recorded high prevalence. Rift Valley Fever virus was found to be associated with the sources of goats (X2 = 16.10, p-value; 0.003). Goats donated by Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and government were found to be associated with RVF seropositivity (OR = 5.30; 95% CI = 1.40- 9.92; p < 0.01).
This retrospective study has noted that sourcing of goats from RVF endemic areas could be playing a key role in introduction and transmission of RVF. Further studies to determine the exact source of the goats in terms of location would be of paramount importance.
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