Seroprevalence of foot and mouth disease in cattle in East Africa between 2014 and 2024: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Background Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is one of the most important transboundary animal diseases, causing severe economic losses due to high morbidity and export trade restrictions. Understanding the epidemiology of FMD is crucial to planning effective prevention and control measures. This study aimed to consolidate the seroprevalence estimates of FMD in different East African countries. Methods The study was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and meta-analysis guidelines. The research articles were searched from PubMed, Web of Sciences, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases using MeSH terms such as seroprevalence, FMD, East Africa, Cattle, and Eastern African countries. Studies published between 2014 and 2024 in the English language were included. For the assessment of publication bias and small study effects, funnel plots and Egger’s regression tests were used. The pooled seroprevalence was calculated with a 95% confidence interval using R software version 4.4.1. Result A total of 22 published articles were included in this meta-analysis and resulted in a pooled seroprevalence estimate of 43% (95% CI: 33.0, 53.0) for FMD. Subgroup analysis revealed substantial heterogeneity between countries (tau^2 = 0.0439, I² = 99.7%, Q-test = 22.89, df = 6, p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion The current results demonstrate a high seroprevalence of FMD in the region. Given the significant economic impact of FMD, region-wide strategies aimed at reducing its prevalence and burden should be prioritized and supported with adequate funding.