Epidemiological study on foot-and-mouth disease in small ruminants: Sero-prevalence and risk factor assessment in Kenya

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in Kenya affecting cloven-hoofed ruminants. The epidemiology of the small ruminants (SR) not documented. We carried out a cross-sectional study, first Kenya, to estimate sero-prevalence FMD SR and associated risk factors nationally. Selection animals be sampled used multistage cluster sampling approach. Serum samples totaling 7564 were screened for antibodies non-structural-proteins using ID Screen ® NSP Competition ELISA kit. To identify factors, generalized linear mixed effects (GLMM) logistic regression analysis with county villages as random effect variables was used. country animal level 22.5% (95% CI: 22.3%-24.3%) while herd 77.6% 73.9%-80.9%). factor that significantly positively sero-positivity multipurpose production type (OR = 1.307; p 0.042). negatively male sex 0.796; 0.007), young age 0.470; 0.010), sedentary zone 0.324; p<0.001). There no statistically significant intra class correlations among but interactions between studied (p 0.019). This study showed there may widespread undetected virus circulation indicated by near ubiquitous spatial distribution country. Strengthening risk-based surveillance recommended. Adjustment husbandry practices control in-contact species suggested. Cross-transmission more need researched.