This document summarizes a study on risk factors associated with sheeppox and goatpox virus exposure in northern Nigeria. The study aimed to assess virus prevalence across herds and identify factors linked to higher risk. Researchers found that 1.6% of sampled small ruminants had exposure to the viruses, with positive animals clustered in certain households and regions. Specifically, eastern Bauchi was identified as a high-risk area, while southwestern Bauchi and northwestern Plateau had lower risk. The results can help design targeted surveillance and intervention programs.

1. Risk factors associated with sheeppox
and goatpox seroprevalence and
identification of high-risk areas in
selected states of Northern Nigeria
Background
Sheeppox and goatpox (SGP) are transboundary,
highly contagious infections affecting sheep and
goats with characteristic clinical signs.
Despite their importance, studies looking at factors
that increase the risk of sheeppox virus and
goatpox virus (SGPV) exposure and infection are
limited.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted in
Bauchi, Kaduna and Plateau in order to:
• Assess the extent and geographic
distribution of SGP seropositivity in
backyard small ruminant flocks.
• Identify factors associated with higher risk
of SGP and areas at higher risk of SGPV
exposure.
Results
➢ 29 out of 1800 small ruminants (1.6%) were
seropositive for SGP.
➢ Positive animals came from 19 households (out
of 300 sampled).
Adeyinka J. Adedeji1, Sandra I. Ijoma1, Rebecca B. Atai1, Banenat B. Dogonyaro1, Jolly A. Adole1, Maurice A.
Nanven1, Onyekachukwu Osemeke1, Ibrahim A. Waziri1, Yakubu J. Atuman1, Nicholas A. Lyons2,3, Kim Stevens4,
Philippa M. Beard2,5, Georgina Limon2,4
1National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Nigeria
2The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, UK
3European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (EuFMD), Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United
Nations, Rome, Italy
4Royal Veterinary College, UK
5The Roslin Institute, Edinburgh, UK
Conclusions
Results from this study can provide key inputs to design risk-based
surveillance and intervention programmes in the area.
Geographic location of Nigeria in West Africa (left) and
Nigeria 36 states and study area (right)
Eastern Bauchi was identified as
an area of high risk. South-
western Bauchi and north-western
Plateau as areas of low risk