Seasonal Trends in Seroprevalence of FMD in
Bovines under Different Environmental Conditions in Rural KPK,
Pakistan
Amjad Khan*, Muhammad Hassan Mushtaq, Mansur ud
din Ahmad, Zahida Fatima1 and Asghar Khan2
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health,
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan 1Animal
Sciences Division, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council G-5,
Islamabad 2Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of
Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore *Corresponding author:doctor_khan77@yahoo.com
Abstract
Foot and mouth disease outbreaks and its endemic
nature in livestock had always remained a major problem in Pakistan. The present
study was aimed to estimate the association between seroprevalence of FMD and
ecological variation in selected rural villages of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Meteorological variables from Pakistan meteorological department and sera
samples from 2511 cattle and buffaloes were obtained respectively over a period
of 1 year “between” July 2013- June 2014. Using 3ABC ELISA serum samples were
tested identifying antibodies against FMD serotypes. From a total of 2511 sera,
9.83% tested FMD positive. True prevalence calculated was 7.42%. The highest
prevalence was observed in sub humid zone, followed by humid and semi-arid zone.
Seasonal pattern of FMD was also identified, showing significantly (P<0.05)
higher prevalence in monsoon followed by summer and post monsoon. It was
concluded that several factors i.e. farming system, unchecked livestock
movements (during religious festivals and trading of livestock from Punjab to
KPK) and change in meteorological factors play a vital role in the prevalence of
FMD. Based on this pertinent prevention measures are required to reduce future
outbreaks considering local climatic conditions.
Key words:
Climate,
Endemic,
Foot and mouth disease,
Meteorological,
Pakistan,
Prevalence