Seroprevalence of Infectious Bursal Disease in Backyard Chickens of Six Districts of North Shewa Zones of Oromia and Amhara Regions, Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study and questionnaire survey was carried from November 2009 up to April 2010 in North Shewa zone of Oromia and Amhara regions to determine prevalence of Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) in unvaccinated backyard chickens using commercial ELISA kit. The study revealed that IBD was prevalent 84.2% (95% CI= 80.6 - 87.8, n=399) in the study areas. Seroprevalence distribution of IBD were 96.2% (95% CI= 93.5-99.0) and 73.8% (95% CI= 67.9-79.8) in Amhara and Oromia regions, respectively. Chickens in the Amhara region were nine times susceptible for IBD than Chickens of Oromia region. There is no significant difference among sex and age groups of study animals. The study revealed that IBD were common in district of Kewet 98.6% (95% CI= 95.7-101.4), Basena Werena 95.1% ( 95% CI= 88.4-101.8), Debre Brehan 94.7 %( 95% CI= 89.5-99.8), W Jarso 78.0% (95% CI= 69.4-86.6), Dagam 71.2% (95% CI= 58.7-83.6) and Kuyu 70.4% (95% CI= 59.7-81.1). It indicates that IBD virus is extensively circulating throughout the study areas. Questionnaire survey revealed that backyard poultry production was suffered from multifaceted diseases which contributed 61% death losses of the chickens at age of a day old to market age. Generally, IBD prevalence among the indigenous chicken was escalated with a possible devastated effect on the vulnerable population of backyard poultry. Therefore, it warrants the vaccine development and implementation for control mechanisms. You can submit your Manuscripts at:  https://symbiosisonlinepublishing.com/submitManuscript.php