Serological survey of foot and mouth disease virus antibodies in apparently healthy domestic pigs in Nigeria

Despite the endemic nature of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in Nigeria, little is known about the epidemiology of the disease in pigs. FMD could pose a negative economic and social impact in the life of small-holder and commercial pig farmers in the advent of an outbreak. In this report, out of 822 pig sera collected from two states (Plateau and Enugu) in Nigeria, 12 (1.5%) tested positive for antibodies to the highly conserved non-structural 3-ABC protein of FMDV by the FMDV-NS blocking ELISA. Two serotypes of FMDV–O and SAT-2 were detected from the 3-ABC positive reactors in Plateau and Enugu States, respectively by the serotype-specific solid phase competitive ELISA (SPCE). This preliminary report suggests that domestic pigs could play an important role in the overall epidemiology of FMD in Nigeria, and should stimulate continued surveillance in the swine species in order to implement an effective FMD control program in the near future.