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Prevalence estimates of antibodies towards foot-and-mouth disease virus in small ruminants in Uganda

Version 2 2024-06-04, 06:30
Version 1 2015-10-05, 13:53
journal contribution
posted on 2024-06-04, 06:30 authored by SN Balinda, K Tjørnehøj, VB Muwanika, AK Sangula, FN Mwiine, C Ayebazibwe, C Masembe, HR Siegismund, Soren AlexandersenSoren Alexandersen
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in Uganda with control strategies focusing on vaccination of cattle, while small ruminants are largely ignored. In order for Uganda to establish effective control strategies, it is crucial that the epidemiology of the disease is fully understood. This study summarizes results of serological investigations of sheep and goats for antibodies to FMDV from four districts in 2006 following an FMD outbreak in the region and from an attempted comprehensive random sampling in two districts in 2007. Antibodies were quantified and serotyped using competitive ELISA for antibodies towards non-structural proteins (NSP) and structural proteins towards serotype O, and blocking ELISA for antibodies towards the seven serotypes of FMD virus (FMDV). In 2006, sheep and goats in Bushenyi and Isingiro districts were free from antibodies towards FMDV, while herds in Kasese and Mbarara districts excluding Kahendero village were all positive for antibodies towards NSP and SP-O. In 2007, mean prevalence estimates of antibodies towards FMDV NSP was 14% in goats and 22% in sheep in Kasese district, while Bushenyi was still free. The difference between these two districts probably reflects different levels of FMDV challenge attributed to the variation in exposure rates which again in part may be as a result of the differing husbandry practices. Contrary to 2006, with clear antibodies towards serotype O, the serotype-specificity of the antibodies was less clear in 2007, as antibodies towards both serotype O and SAT serotypes were identified. Our results show that goats and sheep are infected during FMD outbreaks, and that they may be useful for determining the serotype of FMD outbreaks in Uganda, if they are sampled shortly after an outbreak.

History

Journal

Transboundary and emerging diseases

Volume

56

Pagination

362-371

Location

Berlin, Germany

ISSN

1865-1674

eISSN

1865-1682

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2009, Blackwell

Issue

9-10

Publisher

Wiley