Peste des Petits Ruminants: Seropositivity and associated risk factors in goats and camel in Dello Mena and Madda Walabu Districts of Bale Zone, South Eastern Ethiopia

Despite its endemicity and economic significance in Ethiopia, there was no sero-surveillance report of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in Bale Zone. With this regard the study was conducted in Dello Mena and MaddaWalabu districts of Bale zone with the objectives of determining the seroprevalence of PPR and associated risk factors. A cross sectional study was conducted from March 2017 to May 2017 on weaned goat and camel which were randomly selected from 5 kebeles of each study districts. Accordingly, serums collected from 768 animals (that is, 384 from each district) were tested using competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. An overall seroprevalence of 12.9% was recorded with relatively higher seroprevalence in Dello Mena (13.8%) compared to Madda Walabu district (12%). From 4 putative risk factors investigated by the study, species (goat 19%; camel 2.5%; �2=43.623; p=0.000) and age (adult 16.9%; young 7.2%; �2= 15.472; p=0.000) revealed statistically significant association with PPR seropositivity on Chi-square analysis. In addition, multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that goats were found more likely infected by the disease (Adjusted Odds Ratio=9.522; p=0.000), while adult animals more likely survive infection and become seropositive compared to young animals (Adjusted Odds Ratio= 2.713; p=0.000). PPR found very important health problem in the study areas, especially in goats and younger animals. Due to high sero-prevalence in the study area due attention should be given on the eradication of the disease via organized active surveillance and vaccination of unvaccinated segment of the population, especially younger animals, on annual base.