This study was conducted to establish the spatial and temporal distribution of foot- and-mouth disease (FMD) virus (FMDV) serotypes in the ea stern zone of Tanzania. Observational prospective studies involvi ng serological analysis, and FMDV antigen detection, and retrospective study on FMDV antigen detection were used in this research. Seroprevalence of antibodies to the nonstruc tural protein 3ABC of FMDV and serotype-specific antigen detection were investigated by using SVANOVIR® FMDV 3ABC-Ab ELISA and indirect-sandwich ELISA (sELISA), respectively. Serum and tissue samples were collected from cattle suspected of FMD in six districts of two regions in the eastern zone of Tanzania during the period of 2010 to 2011. A total of 41 (43.6%) out of 94 tested sera in six district were seropositive to non-structural 3ABC protein, with the highest seroprevalence of 81.0% in Bagamoyo district, followed by Kibaha (56.2%), Kinondoni (41.7%), Ilala (34.8%), Kisarawe (16.7%) and Temeke (15.4%) districts. Three FMDV serotypes, namely O, A and SAT 2, were detected in the eastern zone between 2001 and 2011, with type O being the most frequently detected serotype (n = 9; 60.0%) followed by type SAT 2 (n = 5; 33.3%) and type A n = 1; 6.7%). These findings indicate that the eastern zone of Tanzania is predominantly infected with FMDV serotypes O, A, and SAT 2 with different spatial and temporal distribution, and that FMD outbreaks in the zone could be incriminated to at least these three serotypes. These observations imply that a rational control of FMD by vaccination in the eastern zone of Tanzania should consider incorporation of serotypes O, A and SAT 2 serotypes in the relevant vaccine(s). Further studies are required to elucidate the genetic and antigenic characteristics of circulating FMDV strains in the eastern zone of Tanzania so that an appropriate FMD control strategy can be recommended in this region.

This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust Grant WT087546MA to the Southern African Centre for Infectious Diseases & Surveillance (SACIDS).