Should we stop vaccinating against foot-and-mouth disease in Uruguay?

A national survey of veterinarians

Abstract

Veterinarians’ opinions are key to successfully implementing disease control programs. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has a significant economic impact due to animal production losses and trade restrictions. In 2010, PANAFTOSA defined a roadmap to FMD eradication in South America. Although Uruguay has implemented this plan by using mandatory vaccination since the last outbreak in 2001, vaccination restricts access to premium export markets. The objective of this study was to determine the perception of veterinarians involved in large animal disease control programs (accredited veterinarians) on a future FMD control stage without vaccination in Uruguay. Two hundred and fifty-six accredited veterinarians were surveyed between August and September 2018. Two strata were defined as follows: Stratum 1 (pre-FMD outbreak), veterinarians who enrolled in the University of the Republic in Uruguay before or in 2001 (N=708), and Stratum 2 (post-FMD outbreak) veterinarians who enrolled after 2001 (N=426). Data related to demographics, vaccination perceptions, and FMD experience were collected through online and phone interviews. Logistic regressions were used to determine the association between demographic variables, FMD-related risk perceptions, and the willingness to stop FMD vaccination. 41.7% (± 4.2) and 29.4% (± 4.2) of veterinarians, for strata 1 or 2, respectively, were willing to stop vaccination. Veterinarians’ geographical region of work influenced this perception. The northeast area being more likely to support stopping vaccination (46.3 ± 5.8%) when compared to the South-center (39.2 ± 4.9%) and West (25.3 ± 5.0%). Accredited veterinarians are still hesitant to stop vaccination, presenting problems when implementing a non-vaccination stage.