Sero-prevalence of foot and mouth disease virus in cattle in livestock markets of Kiruhura District

Abstract

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) remains one of the most economically devastating transboundary animal diseases affecting livestock worldwide, particularly in endemic regions like Uganda. In the cattle corridor districts of Uganda such as Kiruhura, where cattle farming is central to rural livelihoods and the economy, recurrent FMD outbreaks disrupt trade and food security. Despite temporary market closures during outbreaks, new infections frequently arise shortly after reopening, raising concern over the potential role of infected but not yet detected animals in livestock markets. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of antibodies against the FMD virus in cattle brought to livestock markets of Kyenshama and Nyakasharira in Kiruhura District, identify risk factors and establish the associated animal level risk factors with FMD infection. A cross-sectional design was used to collect 377 blood samples, selected by convenience due to ease of restraint and analyzed using the IDEXX FMD 3ABC Ab ELISA kit, which differentiates natural infection from vaccination. Additional data were gathered using a data sheet for animal details sampled, observational checklists for biosecurity measures and key informant interviews with veterinary officers, market administrators, and traders. The study revealed a low prevalence of 0.79% (95% CI: 0.3–2.4) due to natural FMD infections among cattle entering markets, reflecting the effect of mass vaccination in area before sampling. There was no significant association between animal level risk factors and FMD infection however at both study sites, poor market infrastructure, uncontrolled animal mixing, and inadequate quarantine measures were identified among potential risk factors for new FMD outbreaks in the area. The study concluded that livestock markets should not be viewed as inherent epidemiogical threats but as systems whose risk profile is highly dependent on sustained preventive measures in the surrounding production areas. This study recommends that periodic mass vaccination campaigns be sustained and strengthened, particularly in high-risk zones within livestock market catchment areas and that improvements should be made to mitigate critical biosecurity deficits identified in livestock markets. These actions will support sustainable livestock trade and enhance resilience against FMD in Uganda’s cattle corridor.