Characterization of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Viruses in Zambia-Implications for the Epidemiology of the Disease in Southern Africa

The livestock industry supports livelihood and nutritional security of at least 42% of people in the Southern African Development Community region. However, presence of animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease poses a major threat to the development of this industry. Samples collected from FMD outbreaks in Zambia during 2015–2020, comprising epithelial tissues samples (n = 47) and sera (n = 120), were analysed. FMD virus was serotyped in 26 samples, while 92 sera samples tested positive on NSP-ELISA. Phylogenetic analysis revealed notable changes in the epidemiology of FMD in Zambia, which included: (i) introduction of a novel FMDV SAT-3 (topotype II) causing FMD cases in cattle in Western Province; (ii) emergence of FMDV serotype O (topotype O/EA-2) in Central, Southern, Copperbelt, Western, Lusaka Provinces; and (iii) new outbreaks due to SAT -2 (topotypes I) in Eastern Zambia. Together, these data describe eight different epizootics that occurred in Zambia, four of which were outside the known FMD high-risk areas. This study highlights the complex epidemiology of FMD in Zambia, where the country represents an interface between East Africa (Pool 4) and Southern Africa (Pool 6). These changing viral dynamics have direct impacts on FMD vaccine selection in the SADC region. View Full-Text

Keywords: FMD; livestock; buffalo

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Banda, F.; Sinkala, Y.; Mataa, L.; Lebea, P.; Sikombe, T.; Kangwa, H.L.; Fana, E.M.; Mokopasetso, M.; Wadsworth, J.; Knowles, N.J.; King, D.P.; Quan, M. Characterization of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Viruses in Zambia-Implications for the Epidemiology of the Disease in Southern Africa. Viruses 2021, 13, 2195. https://doi.org/10.3390/v13112195

AMA Style

Banda F, Sinkala Y, Mataa L, Lebea P, Sikombe T, Kangwa HL, Fana EM, Mokopasetso M, Wadsworth J, Knowles NJ, King DP, Quan M. Characterization of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Viruses in Zambia-Implications for the Epidemiology of the Disease in Southern Africa. Viruses. 2021; 13(11):2195. https://doi.org/10.3390/v13112195

Chicago/Turabian Style

Banda, Frank, Yona Sinkala, Liywalli Mataa, Phiyani Lebea, Tingiya Sikombe, Henry L. Kangwa, Elliot M. Fana, Mokganedi Mokopasetso, Jemma Wadsworth, Nick J. Knowles, Donald P. King, and Melvyn Quan. 2021. "Characterization of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Viruses in Zambia-Implications for the Epidemiology of the Disease in Southern Africa" Viruses 13, no. 11: 2195. https://doi.org/10.3390/v13112195

Find Other Styles

Note that from the first issue of 2016, MDPI journals use article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Abstract views Pdf views Html views

Article Access Map by Country/Region

Author Biographies

Frank Banda

Frank Banda is a scientist at the Central Veterinary Research Institute (CVRI) in Lusaka, Zambia. He holds a Master’s Degree in One Health Molecular Biology from Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania and a Bachelor of Technology degree in Biomedical Science from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizaberth, South Africa. His currently a PhD candidate at University of Pretoria, Department of Veterinary tropical diseases. His PhD study focuses on molecular and antigenic characterization of Foot and Mouth disease viruses in Zambia. He currently heads the FMD lab at the CVRI and is also a national project coordinator of FAO funded FMD project in Zambia. He also coordinates wildlife forensics work at the CVRI. Frank has great interest in science, especially Molecular Virology focusing on Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and other viral diseases. He has vast field and laboratory work experience including working with wildlife.

Yona Sinkala

Yona Sinkala, is an animal health scientist who has been involved in surveillance and outbreak investigations of animal diseases of national economic importance in Zambia. Dr Sinkala was until recently the Director of Veterinary Services in the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock in Zambia. He has previously served as Chief Epidemiologist of the Department of Veterinary Services in Zambia. He holds a PhD and Masters in Veterinary Epidemiology from the University of Zambia (UNZA) (Lusaka), Royal Veterinary College (London) and University of London (UK) as well as bachelor of veterinary medicine from UNZA. His main area of research has been epidemiology and risk modelling associated with foot and mouth disease and other viral diseases also impact assessment of animal disease control policies in endemic settings of the developing world. He has authored and co-authored several publications in peer reviewed journals on animal health for development of rural Africa.

Liywalli Mataa

Liywalii Mataa holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Zambia and a Master’s of Science degree in Tropical Animal Health from the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium, with a focus on the diagnosis of African Animal trypanosomiasis. Additionally, he has professional qualifications in areas such as geographical information systems and database management. He has worked for the Department of Veterinary Services in Zambia since 1992, where he has held various portfolios such as district veterinary officer, veterinary research officer and veterinary epidemiologist. His current focus is on designing and developing information management systems for animal health to facilitate early warning and response an area he has done several consultancies works. He is responsible for the collection, analysis and archiving of data in the livestock disease information portal in Zambia’s Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and has just published the Veterinary Atlas of Zambia.

Tingiya Sikombe

Tingiya sikombe is senior Research Scientist at Central Veterinary Research Institute, under the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. Holder of MSc in Veterinary Microbiology, BSc in Biomedical Sciences from University of Zambia and Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology from Evelyn Hone College. Worked for 16 years at Zambia Institute of Animal Health, in charge of Training Laboratory Technicians in Microbiology, Parasitology, Haematology and Laboratory Techniques. He has vast experience in field and lab work including with wildlife. He main areas of interest is Virology with focus on Foot and Mouth Disease. His also currently practicing part time lectures at The University of Zambia, School of Education, Department of Adult Education and Extension Studies. From June 2010- May 2015 he was a Chief Scientific Investigator for IAEA Research Contract on Molecular and Nuclear Technologies for the control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD).

Henry L. Kangwa

Henry Kangwa is a Laboratory Techinician at Central Veterinary Research Institute (CVRI) in Lusaka, Zambia. A holder of Diploma in Science Laboratory Technology from Evelyn Hone College in Lusaka, Zambia who also has specialized training in Laboratory Bio security and bio safety. His received training from African CDC in Laboratory quality management system and Laboratory Mapping using one health approach. He also trained in molecular diagnostic techniques at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria, South Africa. His able to conduct ELISA Techniques and run PCR platforms with minimal supervision. Has vast experience in conducting surveillance in antimicrobial drug residues and resistance in abattoirs and slaughter houses and also collect blood samples and epidemiological data in the field with minimal supervision. His also involved in routine diagnosis and research on viral diseases and bacterial diseases and is actively involved in implementation the quality management system at CVRI.

Elliot M. Fana

Elliot Mpolokang Fana is a scientist specializing in Molecular Virology, Structural biology, Virology. He is currently a Supervisor in the OIE FMD Regional Reference Laboratory for sub-Saharan Africa. He has over 21 years of cumulative laboratory work experience and 14 years was on Foot-and-Mouth disease (FMD) diagnosis at the OIE Regional Reference FMD Laboratory, Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI). At BVI, he is responsible for several tests related to the diagnosis and/ or research of animal diseases. Such tests have included inter alia the isolation of FMD virus is primary lamb kidney cell culture, typing of FMD virus isolates by conventional techniques [e.g. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), virus neutralisation test (VNT)] and molecular techniques [Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing]. He was instrumental in the implementation of the Quality Management System under ISO 17025 standard and accreditation of the laboratory under the same standard.

Mokganedi Mokopasetso

r Mokganedi Mokopasetso is the Chief Veterinary Officer at Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI). He is a veterinarian (University College Dublin – Ireland; Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp) He is currently in charge of post-vaccine production clinical quality control of all vaccines produced at BVI. He has extensive experience in the field investigation, control and management of foot and mouth disease (FMD) particularly in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa.

Jemma Wadsworth

https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/users/jemma-wadsworth

Nick J. Knowles

https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/users/nick-knowles

Donald P. King

https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/users/dr-don-king

Melvyn Quan

https://www.up.ac.za/veterinary-tropical-diseases/article/1945590/m-quan

Article Menu

Characterization of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Viruses in Zambia-Implications for the Epidemiology of the Disease in Southern Africa

Abstract

Share and Cite

Article Metrics

Article Access Statistics

Article Access Map by Country/Region

Author Biographies

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI