Study on seroprevalence and serotyping of foot and mouth disease in Chad.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease that affects all Artiodactyla. Seven immunologically distinct serotypes of FMD virus (FMDV) exist. In Chad, although FMD is included in the list of diseases monitored by the Chadian Animal Disease Surveillance Network (REPIMAT), the epidemiological situation remains unclear. A serological survey was conducted in the cattle population in eight of the nine administrative regions of the country (those regions with the highest cattle densities), to evaluate the prevalence and serotypes of circulating FMDV.A total of 796 sera from randomly selected cattle were analysed at the World Organisation for Animal Health/Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FMD Reference Laboratory at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna(IZSLER), in Brescia (Italy). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), called 3ABC ELISA, was used to detect antibodies against non-structural proteins (NSPs), as well as a series of six competitive ELISAs to detect and serotype antibodies against the structural proteins of FMDV serotypes O, A, SAT 1, SAT 2, Asia 1 and C. Based on the detection of anti-NSP antibodies, the animal-level seroprevalence was 35.6%(95% confidence interval [CI]: 32.2-38.9) and the herd-level seroprevalence was 62.3% (95%CI: 53.0-71.5). FMD was present in all livestock administrative divisions surveyed, with a higher prevalence in southern regions, which are characterised by higher rainfall and humidity and more important transboundary animal movements. Cattle aged more than four years had a higher seroprevalence, which may be due to repeated exposure. Semi-sedentary farming and transhumance were also risk factors. Antibodies against serotypes A, O, SAT 1 and SAT 2 were detected.