Browsing by Author "Genchwere, Joseph Maro"

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    Spatial and temporal distribution of foot and mouth disease virus in the lake zone of Tanzania
    (Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2013) Genchwere, Joseph Maro
    This study was conducted to determine the spatiotemporal distribution of foot-and- mouth disease (FMD) virus (FMDV) serotypes and evaluate the awareness of people on FMD in Tanzania. An observational prospective study involving serological analysis, FMDV antigen detection and questionnaire survey was carried out in the lake zone of Tanzania. Seroprevalence of antibodies to the nonstructural protein (NSP) 3 ABC of FMDV and serotype-specific antigen detection were investigated by using SVANOVIR® FMDV 3ABC-Ab ELISA and indirect-sandwich ELISA (sELISA), respectively, while structured questionnaire was used to evaluate the awareness of people on FMD. Both serum and tissue (foot and mouth epithelia) samples were collected from cattle suspected of FMD in 13 districts of the four regions of the Lake zone during the period of 2010 to 2011. A total of 107 (80.5%) out of 133 tested serum samples were seropositive to NSP-3ABC with at least one sample being positive from all 10 districts screened. Fifteen (53.6%) out of 28 tissue epithelial samples collected from FMD cases in 8 districts during the course of this study were positive to serotype O FMDV antigen. Of the 8 screened districts, serotype O FMDV antigens were detected from 7 districts, and no other serotypes were recovered from animal samples screened. Questionnaire survey in 6 districts indicated that farmers in the lake zone were aware on the clinical manifestation 26 (90%) and economic impact 23 (79%) of FMD in the region. The questionnaire data showed that FMD outbreaks had often occurred after rainy seasons 22 (75.9%) predominantly encountered with the highest peaks just after long rains in May-June and at the end of the short rains in November-December of each year. The spatial distribution of the FMD cases suggested that, FMDV serotype O virus exposure was the only widespread and the cause of 2010-2011 outbreaks in the Lake zone.