National Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Bluetongue Virus in Domestic Ruminants of Peru

Abstract

Bluetongue (BT) is a viral infection caused by the bluetongue virus (BTV) that affects domestic and wild ruminants worldwide. It is primarily transmitted by Culicoides spp. midges, and its infection is highly prevalent across temperate and tropical regions. However, significant changes in the global distribution of BTV have been observed in recent years. We aimed to evaluate the national BTV seroprevalence and risk factors among domestic ruminants (cattle, sheep, and goat species) in Peru. Serum samples were collected from 3452 cattle of 453 districts, 2786 sheep of 408 districts, and 1568 goats of 271 districts using a cross-sectional study in two stages (at the district and animal level) from 2017 to 2019 and analyzed by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). The national BTV true seroprevalences at animal level for cattle, sheep, and goats were 20.34% (95% CI: 17.76–20.82), 7.63% (95% CI: 7.17–9.56), and 8.58% (95% CI: 7.52–10.85), while the true districts-level seroprevalences were 31.53% (95% CI: 24.06–33.77), 24.41% (95% CI: 18.06–27.53), and 13.35% (95% CI: 8.59–17.98), respectively. In addition, we found that altitude and maximum temperature were identified as important factors influencing the seroprevalence of BTV in cattle, sheep, and goats. Higher altitudes above 3000 m above sea level (masl) played a protective role, reducing the BTV seroprevalence. In conclusion, antibodies against BTV were detected in Peruvian domestic ruminants without clinical signs. The seroprevalence was low in the South (<10.0%), varied in the Center and North, and high (>30%) in the East (Amazon rainforest). This study lays the groundwork for identifying BTV serotypes and Culicoides spp. in different regions, including altitudes above 3000 masl, to enhance BTV surveillance in Peru.