EPIDEMIOLOGY OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IN BUFFALOES AND CATTLE OF PUNJAB USING NON STRUCTURAL PROTEINS ELISA.

Sero-epidemiological study was conducted in three districts of Pakistan (Chakwal, Faisalabad and Khanewal) from November 2011 to October 2012 in buffaloes and cattle. Total 900 serum samples were collected from buffaloes (n= 480) and cattle (n= 420) having no history of Foot and Mouth Disease within the study area. The sera were examined using 3ABC (Non Structural Proteins) Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Results of the current study showed that the overall seroprevalence of FMD in bovine was (19.33%) with 16.04% in buffaloes and 23.09% in cattle. Significantly higher (P= 0.000) seroprevelance was recorded in Faisalabad vicinity (29.33%) as compared to the Khanewal (17.66%) and Chakwal (11%) districts. From the various risk factors analysed age, species and herd type were found to be statistically (P 0.05) associated with the disease whereas sex and pregnancy did not have any association with the disease. The higher seroprevalence of disease has substantial economic implications which signify the need for devising effective control measures.