Seroprevalence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum in domestic chickens, East Shewa, Ethiopia

Cross sectional study was conducted to estimate the sero-prevalence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum in domestic chickens and to assess risk factors associated with the disease in commercial and local chickens in East Shewa, Ethiopia. A total of 514 sera were collected (from187 commercial chickens and 327 local chickens) and tested using an indirect enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) to detect antibodies against M. gallisepticum . The overall seropreva lence of M. gallisepticum was 49.4% (254/514). A statistically significant asso ciation ( p<0.05 ) was observed in prevalence between chicken type with prevalence of 64.5% in local and 23% in commercial chickens. Variation in prevalence was observed among the three commercial farms, the highest being in farm-B (46.8%) and the lowest in farm-C (4.25%). Prevalence in local chickens was sig nificantly highest in Lume (72.7%) and lowest in Ada’a (47.5%) ( p<0.05 ). Age was significantly associated with sero-prevalence ( p<0.05 ). Prevalence was 67.3% in layers of (18 to 76 weeks) and 0% in layer chicks of (1 to 8 weeks old). Prevalence was also significantly different between layers (41.7%) and broilers (7.8%) ( p<0.05 ). In commercial chickens, prevalence was significantly higher in females (32.4%) than males (10.1%) ( p<0.05 ). The current study revealed M. gallisepticum is prevalent in chicken in East Shewa, Ethiopia.