SEROPREVALENCE OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE AND PROTECTIVE ANTIBODY TITRE AGAINST IT IN BUFFALOES

Liquid phase blocking (LPB) ELISA is approved for the screening of sera samples after vaccination and non-structural protein (NSP) ELISA for confirmation of infection regardless of vaccination status of animals. In the present study sera samples from 300 buffalo were used to screen for both protective and NSP antibody titre against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) virus. Overall, 6.67% buffalo were infected with FMD whereas 10.67% had suspicion level of titre against the disease. However, protective antibody titre against O, A and Asia-1 serotypes were respectively, 62.67%, 20.00% and 48.00%. Among the breeds, a greater number of Murrah had protective antibody titre against different serotypes of FMD virus (FMDV) namely O, A and Asia-1 than other breeds of buffalo. Comparison of protective antibody titre and doubtful titre of NSP antibody between male and female showed that the proportion of female buffaloes had higher in both protective antibody and titre against NSP in doubtful status. However, no cases of infection were detected in male animals but 9.62% female buffalo were infected with FMD. Similarly, in the age groups of 0 - <4 years and >= 8 years, no cases of FMD infection were established, but 8.20% buffaloes in the age group of 4 - <8 years was infected. Proportion of buffaloes that had protective antibody titre was highest in the age group of 0 - <4 years followed by 4 - <8 years and >= 8 years. Breed, sex and age of buffaloes influenced the protective antibody titre (p<0.01) against different serotypes of FMDV except for serotype A in breeds and age groups of animals (P>0.01).