Epidemiological Study on Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Cattle: Seroprevalence and Risk Factor Assessment in South Omo Zone, South-western Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional sero-epidemiological study was conducted in seven districts of the South Omo zone, south-western Ethiopia, between October 2008 and May 2009 with the objective of determining the seroprevalence of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in cattle and identifying the potential risk factors associated with the disease. In total, 770 cattle sera samples were collected and submitted to the National Veterinary Institute (NVI), Debre Zeit, Ethiopia, for screening using the 3ABC-ELISA. The overall seroprevalence of 8.18% (n=63) was recorded in the study. The highest district-level prevalence was observed in Bennatsemay district (30.2%), and the lowest prevalence was in Malle and Debub Aari districts, each with prevalence of 6.3%. The difference in seropositivity of FMD in the studied districts was found to be statistically significant. From the various risk factors analysed, age of animal, contact history with wild animals, distance of the herd from parks and wild animals' sanctuary and movement pattern of herds in search of pasture and water from area to area were found to be significantly associated (P<0.05) with the seroprevalence of FMD. The results of this study showed that FMD is an important cattle disease in the study areas. Thus, an appropriate control strategy has to be designed and applied, which could involve regulation of transboundary cattle movement, prevention of contact with wildlife and vaccination against the circulating virus strain.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) prevalence and exposure factors associated with seropositivity of cattle in north-central, Nigeria

“…This study is in agreement with other studies which reported that the movement of herds in search of pasture and water from one area to another is a significant risk factor for the occurrence of FMD (Habiela et al, 2010;Molla et al, 2009;Megersa et al, 2009).Herds that reported mixing at the watering point with other herds recorded the highest seroprevalence relative to those that do not mix with other herds. Watering point was observed to be a common place where cattle of different herds meet in search of water, thereby serving as foci of FMD transmission.…”

Epidemiological study on foot and mouth disease in cattle: Seroprevalence and risk factor assessment in Kellem Wollega Zone, West Ethiopia

“…However, the seroprevalence was slightly lower than the previous findings in Ethiopia (Sahle, 2004) in which a seropositivity of 26.5% was reported. On the contrary, the seropositivity found in current study was higher than the report in Afar Regional State where seropositivity of 5.6% (Jembere, 2008) and in South Omo Zone where seropositivity of 8.18% was reported (Molla et al, 2010). The relative increase in the prevalence of the FMD in comparison to other findings might be due to extensive livestock movement and high rate of contact at market place, grazing and watering points which are potential risk factors for the transmission of the disease in the study area.…”

Seroprevalence of foot and mouth disease (FMD) and associated economic impact on Central Ethiopian cattle feedlots

“…Studies undertaken on FMD so far revealed the existence of the disease in different parts of the country, with prevalence that vary from 8.18% in south Omo (Molla et al, 2010) to 44.2% in different parts of the country (Negusssie et al, 2010) and posing a major threat to cattle in many parts of the country, thereby causing considerable economic losses through morbidity, mortality and trade restriction.…”