Risk factors associated with observed clinical lumpy skin disease in Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross-sectional study based on a questionnaire survey was conducted to determine the distribution of lumpy skin disease (LSD) and associated risk factors in three main agro-climatic zones of Ethiopia. A total of 330 questionnaire surveys were collected from 44 peasant associations (PA) distributed in 15 districts. Across agro-climate zones, herd-level LSD prevalence in the midland agro-climate was significantly higher 552% [95% confidence interval (CI) 475-626] than in highland and lowland agro-climate zones. Overall observed LSD prevalence at animal-level was 81% (95% CI 73-89) and observed mortality was 212% (95% CI 173-26). The odds ratio (OR) of LSD occurrence in midland vs. highland and lowland vs. highland zones was 386 (95% CI 261-511) and 485 (95% CI 259-71), respectively. Significantly high risk of LSD occurrence was associated with communal grazing and watering management (OR 41, 95% CI 202-618) and introduction of new cattle (OR 85, 95% CI 60-110). Our findings describe the distribution of LSD in different agro-climates in Ethiopia along with associated risk factors, and can help shed light on the epidemiology of LSD in other African countries suffering from the disease. Copyright © 2010 Cambridge University Press.