Typing and serological surveillance of FMDV in the African buffaloes in Zambia.

doi:10.4102/ojvr.v81i2.742 http://www.ojvr.org Authors: Tingiya Sikombe1,3 Christopher J. Kasanga2 Yona Sinkala3 Martin Simuunza3 John Muma3 Rahana Dwarka4 Misheck Mulumba5 Cornelius Mundia6 Aaron Mweene3 Affiliations: 1Central Veterinary Research Institute, Zambia 2Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania 3School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Zambia 4Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, University of Pretoria, South Africa 5Southern African Development Community Secretariat, Botswana 6Southern African Development Community, Transboundary Animal Diseases Section, Zambia Correspondence to: Christopher Kasanga Email: christopher.kasanga@sacids. org Postal address: PO Box 3019, Chuo Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania How to cite this article: Sikombe, T., Kasanga, C.J., Sinkala, Y., Simuunza, M., Muma, J., Dwarka, R. et al., 2014, ‘Typing and serological surveillance of FMDV in the African buffaloes in Zambia’, Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 81(2) Art. #742, 1 page. http:// dx.doi.org/10.4102/ojvr. v81i2.742 Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in Zambia. Little is known of the epidemiology of FMD virus (FMDV) in the country and this has led to the continuous occurrence of FMD in southern Zambia. FMD severely impacts pastoral and agro-pastoral communities who are most reliant on livestock products for economy and food security. Southern Zambia is densely populated with livestock and wildlife, which are usually in contact almost throughout the year. The control of FMD in Zambia is mainly done strategically through vaccination, but this is complicated by the presence of buffaloes and traditional cattle farmers’ practice of transhumance in areas harbouring wild animals. The current research aims at determining the infection status and FMD virus (FMDV) serotype(s) circulating in domesticated and wild animals in southern Zambia. A targeted cross-sectional study will be employed in this study. Sera and oesophagealpharyngeal (OP) fluids will be obtained from cattle and buffaloes in selected areas of Zambia. Epidemiological data such as age, sex, health, and vaccination status of animals will be taken during sampling. Infection status will be determined by NSP-ELISA targeting the 3ABC region of FMDV genome. FMDV serotypes will be examined by LPB-ELISA and/or antigen ELISA on OP samples. This research has the potential to unravel the infection status and serotype(s) of circulating FMDV strains in Zambia. This information will be useful in designing a rational strategy of control of FMD in Zambia and the neighbouring countries.