Sero-epidemiologic study on Foot-and-Mouth Disease in livestock in West Libya Symaia M. AbdulJawad1, Hiyam M. Zegallai1, Emad M. Bennour2, Ibrahim M. Eldaghay2, Fabrizio Rosso3, Chris J. M. Bartels3 and Abdunaser S. Dayhum2 1 National Center of Animal Health, P. O. Box 121, Zawia, Libya 2 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, P. O. Box 13662, Tripoli, Libya. 3 EUFMD1 European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Food and Agriculture Organisation, Rome, Italy

Study objectives and results For two areas in North-west Libya (Zliten and Tripoli) in small and large ruminants to determine the NSP-Ab sero-prevalence for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) to identify the putative risk factors associated with FMD infection. Two master degree: Serological Survey for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Livestock Animals in Zliten Region – Libya by Symaia M. AbdulJawad SEROEPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IN SHEEP, GOATS AND CATTLE IN TRIPOLI REGION, LIBYA by Hiyam M. Zegallai

Objectives and study design Study objective To acquire a better understanding of the epidemiology of FMD virus circulation in large and small ruminants with regard to Prevalence and putative Risk factors To support the risk-based strategy for FMD control in Libya Study area Two areas in West Libya (Zliten (25) and Tripoli (22)) Cross-sectional sero-survey Small ruminants and large ruminants

FMD in Libya Introduction of FMD SAT 2 in 2012 FMD O – EA3 unnamed in 2012 FMD O – Ind-2001d in 2013 Current political situation makes it hard to receive notifications and samples

Livestock production in Libya Large ruminants: 156.000 heads of cattle, mainly dairy and around large cities Small ruminants: 6.360.000 heads with 30% of owners trading mainly around larger cities 70% traditional livestock owners – grazing their stock

Animal movement across Libya 1800 km coast line 4400 km border lines (Egypt, Sudan, Chad, iger, Algeria, Tunesia)

Collaboration EuFMD 2014 Developing a Risk-based Strategy Plan – PCP-FMD Stage 1 Identification of risk hotspots Identification of gaps and needs Risk prioritization and risk pathways Definition of strategic objectives and tactics

Context of present study Work of student as part of Master studies Nearby Tripoli Animal dense location 56.000 dairy cattle 700.000 small ruminants Mixed farming practices Previous work was part of a collaboration with IZSLER in 2012-2014 Investigation of FMD outbreaks Immune response in vaccinated animals Level of FMD virus circulation (NSP-Ab)

Study design Cattle sampled: Small ruminants 91 herds (10% of herds) Maximum 5 heads sampled Total 435 heads of cattle Small ruminants 34 flocks with >= 100 heads (10% of flocks) 48 samples per flock by age-categories (< 12 months, 12-23 months, >= 24 months) Total 1590 heads Questionnaire with farmers on putative risk factors Management practices Location Species Samples tested for NSP-Ab against FMD PrioCHECK® FMDV NS Statistical analysis Poisson regression analysis for risk factors at herd/flock level

Study results – NSP-Ab seropositivity Herd level 25 out of 91 had no NSP-Ab + cattle 8 out of 91 had all 5 cattle NSP-Ab + Individual level 37% (95% CI: 32 – 41) Flock level 1 out of 34 had no NSP-Ab + SR Mean number NSP-Ab + was 7.4 heads Median NSP-Ab + was 5 heads Individual level 16% (95% CI: 15 – 18)

Association between NSP-Ab and animal-related factors Cattle Age: Cattle older than 12 months were 2-times more likely to test NSP-Ab positive compared with cattle younger than 12 months Small ruminants Over 12 months of age: OR = 1.8 (1.2-3.5) Goats versus sheep: OR = 2.4 (1.8-3.1) Imported versus local: OR=1.8 (1.4-2.3)

Putative risk factors at unit-level Cattle No statistically significant factors from multi-variable regression Univariable testing indicated Proportion NSP-Ab increases with increasing herd size Proportion NSP-Ab higher in Tripoli compared with Zliten Small ruminants Sales: farms selling more livestock had increased levels of FMD positive test results (Odds ratio: 2.0 (95%CI: 1.2-3.4)) Manure: farms selling or taking the manure outdoors had higher levels of FMD positive test results (Odds ratio: 1.8 (95%CI: 0.9-3.7))

Interpretation and discussion Age is indicating active virus circulation FMD virus circulation more in small ruminants Cattle are kept indoors (on site) more than small ruminants Cattle are more likely to be vaccinated Goats testing positive more often than sheep Selling livestock and manure are putative risk factors Results will help to inform livestock owners, private vets and extension workers on farm management practices to reduce exposure to FMD virus Building capacity Study design Data collection Data management

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