SERO PREVALENCE AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS OF BOVINE FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IN SELECTED DISTRICTS OF GAMO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Foot and mouth disease is extremely contagious viral disease of all cloven hoofed animals which hampers the livestock production and productivity in Ethiopia. The current study area is prone to virus transmission due to high cattle movement and availability of local markets. So this cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2021 to December 2021 to estimate the seroprevalence of bovine foot and mouth disease, to identify the potential risk factors and to assess farmers’ knowledge about the disease in selected districts of Gamo zone. Three districts and two kebeles from each district were purposively sampled. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select individual animals from each kebeles. A total of 384 sera samples were collected and concurrently 100 farmers were interviewed. The samples were tested using 3ABC ELISA for antibodies against nonstructural proteins of foot and mouth disease virus at National Animal Health Diagnostic and Investigation Center. As a result, the overall seroprevalence of foot and mouth disease was 26.8%. The multivariable logistic regression revealed that age, breed and agro-ecology had significant association with seroposetivity of the animal. Higher seroprevalence (64.57%) was observed in low land followed by mid land (9.30%) and high land (5.88%). Study animals from low land areas were 9.26 times more likely to be seropositive (OR= 9.26, CI =2.22 - 38.62) for FMD than high land animals. Also, adult animals have a chance of 9.01 (OR=9.01, CI 3.18 - 25.53) of being more likely to be seropositive for the disease than young animals. The multivariable logistic regression also revealed that cross breeds have 84.7% (OR=0.153, CI 0.028 - 0.82) lower likelihood to be seropositive to FMD than local breeds. From the interviewed farmers 66% had knowledge about the disease however, only 1% replied as the disease had vaccine and 34% knew the route of disease transmission. The present study result confirms as FED is highly prevalent in the study area where as farmers’ knowledge regarding the disease transmission and vaccine availability is minimum. Hence for farmers regarding the prevention methods. concerned bodies should implement prevention methods and create awareness