Seroprevalence and risk factors for foot-and-mouth disease in cattle in Baghlan Province, Afghanistan

A serological study of 376 cattle from 198 herds and a concurrent survey of farmers were undertaken in 53 villages in Khinjan, Doshi and Puli Khumri districts of Baghlan province, Afghanistan to determine the seroprevalence of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and to identify risk factors for seropositive herds. A total of 419 cases of FMD were reported by the farmers in the year preceding the survey. The animal-level population seroprevalence was estimated at 42.0% (95% CI, 37.0–47.2). The seroprevalence increased with age in the sampled cattle (<2 years - 30.4%, 2–6 years - 40.3% and >6 years - 52.2%). Herds were more likely to be seropositive if the farmers: had purchased cattle in the year prior to the survey (OR = 2.6; 95% CI, 1.37–4.97); purchased ruminants from unknown (potentially risky) sources (OR = 2.13; 95% CI, 1.13–4.03); and sold milk to the market (OR = 1.99; 95% CI, 1.09–3.63). Herds that had been vaccinated had a lower odds of being seropositive (OR = 0.33; 95% CI, 0.68–0.66). This was the first epidemiological study of FMD in Baghlan province and the findings provide valuable direction for disease control on FMD in this and other provinces in Afghanistan.