Prevalence and risk factors of caprine arthritis encephalitis virus infection (CAEV) in Northern Somalia

The aim of the present study was to determine seroprevalence and the risk factors associated with caprine arthritis encephalitis virus infection (CAEV) in Northern Somalia (Somaliland). A total of 1198 serum samples were collected from 34 randomly selected goat herds of two major districts of Somaliland namely, Togdheer (Burao) and Waqoyi Galbed (Hergiesa). Serum samples were examined for CAEV antibodies using competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). A total of 72 goats were found seropositive with overall seroprevalence of 6.0%.Onanimal level, multivariate logistic regression showed that there was a significant association between CAEV infection and age (P < 0.01; OR: 16.282; CI 95%, 5.87–25.17), rearing with sheep (P < 0.001; OR: 4.158; CI 95%, 1.47–11.715), and herd size (P < 0.05; OR: 1.22; CI 95%, 0.93–2.17). However, on the herd level, herd size (P < 0.05; OR: 1.96; CI 95%, 0.51–1.76) and rearing with sheep (P<0.05; OR: 13.31; CI 95%, 1.30–13.24) were the risk factors. The result of the present study indicates that CAEV infection exists in the goat herds in Somaliland. It also provides an overview about the risk factors associated with the disease at the examined localities.