Seroepidemiology and Serotype Diversity of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Among Domestic Ungulates Across Nigeria

Introduction: Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral infection of cloven-hoofed animals that causes substantial economic losses and severe disruptions to agricultural systems globally. It affects animal health and productivity in Nigeria but there is paucity of data across regions and among various animal species. This study determined the seroepidemiology and serotype diversity of the FMD virus (FMDV) among domestic ungulates including cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, across all geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Materials and methods: 1002 sera were collected from domestic ungulate animals (cattle n=511, sheep n=182, goat n=218 and pigs n=91) and were analyzed using commercial ELISA kits (ID Vet®, France and IZLER®, Italy) to antibody and serotype-specific antibodies to FMD. Metadata on individual species were collected through questionnaire uploaded on Kobocollect containing sociodemographic data, and distribution of FMD in Nigeria. Results: The study revealed an overall rate of 45.7% for all the various species and regions in Nigeria with specific host prevalence of 69.7% for cattle, 26.9% for sheep, 20.6% for goats, and 8.8% for pigs. Serotype O was the most predominant (74.9%), followed by A (56.3%), SAT 2 (35.8%), Asia 1 (22.9%) and SAT 1 (16.8%). Kaduna had the highest prevalence (88.9%), while Cross River had the lowest (9.1%). Serotype co-infections were prevalent among cattle, with 32% exhibiting multi-serotype infections. Health status and body condition are major determinants of susceptibility, with unhealthy animals being five times more likely to test positive to FMD (OR = 5.479, p < 0.001). Conclusion: We have systematically determined FMDV seroprevalence and serotype distribution in various domestic ungulate species across all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria. Our findings highlight the importance of improved surveillance networks to address regional patterns and prevalent serotype clusters. It reinforces the need for developing generic multivalent vaccination plans and provides essential data for national policy to improve livestock healthcare strategies and minimize the burden of FMD in Nigeria.