Study on the Epidemiology of Foot and Mouth Disease in Cattle Around Lake Mburo National Park in South-Western Uganda
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2011-12-01
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
A cross-sectional survey was carried out from March 2011 to September 2011 with the
objectives of determining the prevalence of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in cattle, the risk
factors associated with FMD seropositivity and the temporal characteristics of FMD
outbreaks in cattle in four districts (Kiruhura, Mbarara, Isingiro and Rakai) around Lake
Mburo Conservation Area (LMCA), formerly called Lake Mburo National Park (LMNP), in
South-Western Uganda. A total of 404 cattle of 6-12 months of age and never vaccinated
against FMD were tested from 41 herds in Kiruhura district. A retrospective assessment of
veterinary records to determine the temporal characteristics of the FMD outbreaks was carried
out for Kiruhura, Isingiro, Mbarara and Rakai districts for a period of 10 years (2001-2010).
The seroprevalence of FMD was 6.2% (n = 404) and 36.6% (n = 41) at individual and herd
levels, respectively. The within herd seropositivity (on-farm seroprevalence) for the
seropositive herds ranged from 4.5 to 57.1% with an average of 15%. The location of the
herds/farms by sub-county and the husbandry system practiced on the farm/herd were
statistically significantly associated with FMD outbreak occurrence on the farms/herds.
Within Kiruhura district, herds from Nyakashashara Sub-county were found to be at 2.7 times
higher risk (odds ratio) of getting FMD' outbreak than those in Sanga Sub-county. The
husbandry system was also an important risk factor. Up to 78% (n = 27), 45.5% (n = 11) and
0.0% (n = 3) of the herds under the communal grazing, grazing herd separately and fenced
grazing systems, respectively, were found to have got at least one FMD outbreak in the period
between 2001-2011. FMD outbreaks were more common during the dry season months (JuneJuly)
and shortly after the dry season (March) than in the rainy season months. There is
continuous circulation of the FMDV in the cattle population in the study area and control, by
vaccination, should consider the seasonal pattern of the outbreaks and collaboration with the
neighboring republic of Tanzania.
Description
Keywords
ELISA, Foot And Mouth Disease, Lake Mburo Conservation Area, Livestockwildlife Interface, Risk Factors, South-Western Uganda.