Serological Evidence of the Circulation of Foot-and-mouth disease Virus in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from Jesús María Semprun and Catatumbo Counties, Zulia State, Venezuela

Abstract

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) has a broad range of hosts and a high resistance to inactivation in the environment. Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) are considered major hosts within the natural ecology of FMDV. The objective of this research was to determine the seroprevalence of FMDV in Jesús María Semprun and Catatumbo Counties, Zulia State, Venezuela. A proportional stratified sampling was undertaken in September 2013. Blood samples were collected from 549 buffaloes (25 farms), and sera were used for 3ABC iELISA. Seroprevalences and odds ratios for risk factors were calculated. Likewise, a logistic regression model was created. Seroprevalences were 10.5 and 6.6% at animal level and 75 and 53.85% at herd level in Catatumbo and Jesús María Semprun Counties, respectively. A higher seroprevalence in animals older than 24 months (10.8%, P<0.01) was observed. Conversely, seroprevalence in animals younger than 24 months old did not show any significant differences between Counties (P>0.05). Animals older than 24 months and belonging to a farm where at least three susceptible species share pastures, were the factors that increased the odds of being in contact with FMDV. In conclusion, there is a low FMDV seroprevalence at buffalo level but a high seroprevalence at farm level in Catatumbo and Jesús María Semprun Counties. It is recommended to increase vaccination and epidemiological surveillance in buffalo farms in those Counties, especially since buffaloes are an important FMDV reservoir to cattle, which in turn are more prone to display clinical signs and hence outbreaks ensue.