Seroprevalence of foot-and-mouth disease and its association with animal-level and agroecological factors in cattle around Massif Bale Mountain, Ethiopia

Abstract

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) poses a significant economic threat to livestock producers because of its highly contagious nature. This study aimed to determine FMD seroprevalence and identify associated risk factors in cattle across districts surrounding the Massif Bale Mountain in Ethiopia. From May to June 2024, a cross-sectional study was conducted in which 1073 cattle serum samples were collected and tested for FMD virus nonstructural protein (NSP) antibodies. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to identify factors associated with seroprevalence, including sex, age, breed, district, and kebele. Our findings revealed an overall FMD seroprevalence of 27.1% (95% CI: 24.5–29.9%). This varied geographically; Dodola presented the highest district-level prevalence at 37.0%, whereas Dinsho presented the lowest at 13.0%. The multivariable analysis revealed significant associations: District Kokosa had notably lower odds of FMD seroprevalence (OR = 0.28, p = 0.011), whereas Kebele Gerba Hurfa had significantly higher odds (OR = 4.94, p = 0.001). Interestingly, individual animal factors such as sex, age, and breed were not significantly associated with FMD seroprevalence in our study. FMD is prevalent in the study area, with critical geographical variations at both the district and kebele levels. These results underscore the importance of understanding localized factors in FMD epidemiology and provide valuable insights for developing targeted control strategies.