Cross-sectional serological study and questionnaire
survey were conducted in Borana pastoral and agropastoral
area to determine seroprevalence and risk factors
associated with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) infection
and to assess community perceptions as to importance of
the disease. A multistage random sampling was carried out
to select cattle for seroprevalence and households for
interviews. Totally, 768 sera were collected from 111 herds.
The overall individual level seroprevalence of 23.0% (n=
177) and herd level seroprevalence of 58.6% (n=65) were
recorded using 3ABC ELISA test. The variation of
individual level seroprevalence in districts were statistically
significant (P<0.05) which was 29.9% in Arero, 24.0% in
Yabello, and 15.7% in Teltele. From multivariate logistic
regression analysis, herd size and age were seen to be
significantly (P<0.05) associated with FMD seroprevalence.
The result of the questionnaire survey based on 120
respondents indicated that, the daily milk yield of cows
infected with FMD during outbreaks is reduced to an
average of 0.5 L for 25.5 days while cows developing heatintolerance
syndrome after acute infection gave an average
0.67 L for 3.8 months and their calving interval prolonged
about 12 months. The questionnaire survey in agro-pastoral
area of Borena also indicated that FMD-infected oxen
remained off-plough for one season when outbreaks occur
in cropping time, whereas heat-intolerant oxen were no
longer used for traction. These findings of the present study
indicated that FMD is a highly prevalent and economically
important disease in the Borana pastoral and agro-pastoral
production systems which need effective control strategy
for the disease.