A study was conducted in western Ethiopia – in two districts of Oromia state and four districts of Beneshangul Gumuz state – to determine the seroprevalence of foot and mouth disease and the associated risk factors, using multistage random sampling. A 3ABC blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure antibody against the non-structural protein of foot and mouth disease virus to differentiate between vaccinated and infected animals. A total of 1,144 sera from 181 herds were collected and examined. The overall seroprevalence at animal level and herd level was 9% (95% CI 7.2–10.6) and 38.1% (95% CI 29.1–47.1), respectively. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were recorded among different species, with 13%, 5% and 3% seropositivity in cattle, sheep and goats, respectively. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in herd seroprevalence were observed among districts, with 52%, 50%, 50%, 44%, 21% and 11% in Gidami, Begi, Tongo, Bambasi, Mange and Asosa districts, respectively.

Keywords
Beneshangul Gumuz – Cattle – Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay – Ethiopia – Foot and mouth disease – Goat – Oromia – Seroprevalence – Sheep – Western Wollega.