Epidemiologic Aspects of a Foot- and-Mouth Disease Epidemic in Cattle in Ecuador

Resumen

A case-control study was conducted to identify herd-level risk factors associated with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Ecuador. Case herds were those with presence of cattle with clinical signs of FMD and that tested positive for FMD virus during the epidemic of 2002 (n = 39). Control farms (n = 78) were selected randomly from a list of farms without a history of FMD. All study farms were visited, and managers were interviewed to complete an epidemiologic questionnaire. Feedlot operations, purchase of livestock at markets, and close proximity to markets or slaughter facilities were identified as risk factors for FMD (P ≤ 0.01). In addition to systematic vaccination of the national herd, we recommend allocation of funds for ring-vaccination of cattle herds in close proximity to markets or slaughter facilities, and to enforce movement of vaccinated-cattle only to help control and prevent new epidemics of FMD.