Sero-prevalence of infectious bursal disease in backyard chickens around Mekelle, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

A cross sectional study was conducted from January to June 2012 to determine the sero-prevalence of Infectious bursal disease (IBD) in chicken reared under backyard poultry production systems around Mekelle town, Tigray regional state. During the study period blood samples were collected from 384 unvaccinated backyard chickens from three different areas. A commercial indirect enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) was used to test the sera for IBD anitbodies kit. The overall sero-prevalence of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) antibody in chickens was found to be 45.05% (173/384). There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the sero-prevalence of IBDV among/between the different age groups, sex and origin of chickens. The result of this study indicates that IBD is prevalent in the study area. The prevalence of IBDV antibody in unvaccinated backyard chickens might be due to field exposure of chickens to the disease and indicated the importance of further study on the epidemiology of the disease and the sero-type of the IBDV that are circulating in the country to design appropriate control measures.  

 Key words: Infectious bursal disease (IBD), chickens, sero-prevalence, Mekele, indirect enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA).