Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Infectious Laryngotrachitis in Small Scale Chicken Production in Nekemte Town and Selectted Districts of East Wollega Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is a disease of high economic consequence to the poultry sector. Infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV), under the genus Iltovirus, and the family Herpesviridae, is the agent responsible for the disease. The aims of current study were, therefore, to estimate the seroprevalence of ILTV in chickens and identifying associated risk factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2022 to October 2022 in East Wollega zone specifically in Nekemte town and three surrounding districts (Diga, Guto Gida and Leka Dulecha). The districts were selected by purposive sampling, however, cluster-sampling technique was used to select the smallest administrative units (villages) and farms/households, and the study element (chickens) was selected by simple random sampling method. Logistic regression analysis was utilized in order to analyse the collated data. A total of 384 serum samples were collected from Nekemte town and the three selected districts of east Wollega zone. Indirect ELISA was used to assay for the existence of anti-ILTV antibodies in the serum. A questionnaire survey was used to identify the potential risk factors. Out of the 384 samples, 15.36% (95% CI: 12.1–19.3) tested positive for anti-ILTV antibodies, with 21.88%, 14.44%, 11.11% and 10.53% prevalence obtained from Nekemte town, Guto Gida, Diga and Leka Dulecha respectively. Univariable logistic regression analysis showed that the chicken source and Sasso breed were found to be significantly associated with ILT seropositivity. Chickens obtained from day old chicks distributers was 2.22 (COR: 2.22, 95% CI: 1.23-4.00) times more likely seropositive than those bought from market. Multivariable logistic regression analysis of potential risk factors revealed that exotic Sasso breeds of chicken were found 9.68 (AOR: 9.68, 95% CI: 1.96-47.78) more likely to be seropositive than local breed. It was concluded that the seroprevalence obtained in this study indicated the circulation of this economically important poultry disease in the study sites and, hence warrants prevention and control.