Phylogeographic analysis of foot‐and‐mouth disease virus serotype O dispersal and associated drivers in East Africa
Abstract
The continued endemicity of foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) in East Africa has significant implications for livestock production and poverty reduction, yet its complex epidemiology in endemic settings remains poorly understood. Identifying FMDV dispersal routes and drivers of transmission is key to improved control strategies. Environmental heterogeneity and anthropogenic drivers (e.g., demand for animal products) can impact viral spread by influencing host movements. Here, we utilized FMDV serotype O VP1 genetic sequences and corresponding spatiotemporal data in order to (i) infer the recent dispersal history, and (II) investigate the impact of external factors (cattle density, human population density, proximity to livestock markets, and drought) on dispersal velocity, location, and direction of FMDV serotype O in East Africa. We identified statistical evidence of long‐distance transmission events, and we found that FMDV serotype O tends to remain circulating in areas of high cattle density, high human population density, and in close proximity to livestock markets. The latter two findings highlight the influence of anthropogenic factors on FMDV serotype O spread in this region. These findings contribute to the understanding of FMDV epidemiology in East Africa and can help guide improved control measures.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Jun 10, 2021
- Source ID
- 10.1111/mec.15991
Entities
People
- Andres Perez
- Anna Munsey
- Elizabeth Rieder
- Francois Maree
- Frank Norbert Mwiine
- Kimberly VanderWaal
- Lauro Velazquez‐salinas
- Luis L. Rodriguez
- Simon Dellicour
- Sylvester Ochwo
- Zaheer Ahmed
Organizations
- Agricultural Research Service
- Defense Threat Reduction Agency
- Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
- Makerere University
- National Institute of Food and Agriculture
- Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute
- University of Minnesota
- Université Libre de Bruxelles