Sero-Epidemiology of Foot and Mouth Disease in Domestic Ruminants in Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study involved cross-sectional serological and questionnaire-based surveys to investigate the sero-epidemiology of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in domestic ruminants, and farmers' knowledge and practices about the disease in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. A multistage cluster sampling was carried out to select domestic ruminants for serological sampling and for the interview with farmers. A total of 1,672 sera samples were collected and tested using a 3ABC-Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay, and 170 farmers were interviewed. An overall FMD apparent seroprevalence of 11.48% (95% CI: 7.52–17.14%) was recorded in the domestic ruminants. The overall true prevalence was 12.04%. The seroprevalence of FMD was higher in cattle (14.37%) than in goats (7.10%) and sheep (7.07%). The age stratified seroprevalence in the districts showed that 66.67% of the districts studied experienced a FMD outbreak within the preceding year of the study time. A mixed effect logistic regression analysis revealed that agroecology, the production system and the age of the animal was significantly associated with FMD seropositivity in cattle ( P < 0.05). A statistically significant ( P < 0.05) positive correlation ( r = 0.93) was observed between cattle and small ruminant FMD seroprevalences. About 82% of the farmers interviewed knew of FMD and 85% of them had experienced the disease in their own herds before. The farmers mostly employ traditional means to control FMD. In conclusion, the findings of the study indicated that FMD is a prevalent disease in the Amhara region with more importance in the intensive production systems and the lowlands of the region. High correlation in seroprevalence between small and large ruminants indicated a possible cross transmission between these species. Therefore, small ruminants should not be overlooked in FMD control. Farmers in the region have a good level of knowledge about the disease; however, currently they heavily rely on traditional practices primarily focused on treating wounds of infected animals. This calls for extension work on available effective preventive measures of the disease, such as vaccination and movement restriction.

Epidemiological study on foot-and-mouth disease in small ruminants: sero-prevalence and risk factor assessment in Kenya

“…At individual animal level, caprine (goats) showed higher seroprevalence than ovine (sheep). This is in agreement with the findings by Mesfine et al [33] but in contrast to what has been reported by other researchers who found FMD sero-positivity to be significantly higher in sheep than in goats [38,40,46]. Others found sero-prevalence to be significantly higher in goats than in sheep [35,42].…”

“…In this study the country sero-prevalence of FMD in SR was found to be 23.3% similar to what has been reported in other countries where FMD is endemic [41,42]. It is however higher than that reported in Ethiopia, Israel, Libya and Sudan [33,34,36,37,43] but about half of what has been reported in Tanzania and Myanmar [39,44,45]. A previous study in cattle in Kenya showed much higher sero-prevalence in cattle at 52.5% [70] and unpublished data obtained at the same time with this current study in Kenyan cattle revealed a sero-prevalence rate of 37.6% in cattle.…”

“…This means sheep and goats in Kenya are less susceptible to FMDV compared to cattle despite the fact that they are normally herded together in endemic settings of Kenya. The same was observed in Ethiopia [33,34].…”

“…Similar studies in Kenya and neighbouring Ethiopia reported similar results of no difference in sero-positivity between the sexes [72,73]. However, these results are in contrast to Ethiopian studies where 15.7% and 8.3% seroconversions were reported in male and female animals respectively [74] and 8.9% in female while 3.0% in male [33]. The sero-prevalence in animals that were born in the herd was significantly higher than that of animals that were brought in.…”

Foot and mouth disease outbreak investigation and estimation of its economic impact in selected districts in northwest Ethiopia

“…Based on data over the years 2007-2012, annual district level incidence of FMD outbreak was estimated at 0.24, 0.39 and 0.85 per district year in the crop livestock mixed, pastoral and market-oriented districts, respectively, and the outbreaks were caused by serotypes O, A, SAT 2 and SAT 1 (Jemberu et al, 2016). Serological studies of FMD undertaken in different parts of the country reported seroprevalence ranging from 5.6% to 24.2% (Desissa, Tura, Mamo, & Rufae, 2014;Jenbere, Etana, & Negussie, 2011;Mekonen, Beyene, Rufael, Feyisa, & Abunna, 2011;Mesfine, Nigatu, Belayneh, & Jemberu, 2019;Mohamoud, Tessema, & Degefu, 2011;Zerabruk, Romha, & Rufael, 2014).…”