Abstract:
Infectious bursal disease (IBD) has been a great challenge to the poultry industry world-wide for
a long time and has a major setback to productivity and profitability in the poultry industries of
developing nations including Ethiopia. A cross sectional study on infectious bursal disease was
conducted in apparently healthy back yard chickens of 6 selected kebeles located at Waliso
district from November, 2018 to October, 2019. A total of 282 serum samples were collected
from randomly selected village chickens to estimate seroprevalence of IBD infection for
household respondents were used to determine chickens management practices associated with
IBD. Simple random sampling method was used to t individual chicken at household level.
Household respondent perception on IBD was gathered using a semi-structured questionnaire.
Serological task was conducted at the laboratory of NAHDIC Sebeta. Out of 282 serum samples
tested 224 were positive for Ab against IBDV using indirect ELISA technique and the overall
prevalence of IBD in the study area was found to be 79.43 (%). Relatively Higher prevalence was
observed in chickens farms kept by illiterate persons 88(%) than in educated one.A statistically
difference was found in the prevalence of IBD among study sites (P<0.01), household chicken
keeping experience (p<0.05), flock size, age chicken age (p<0.01) and some hygienic
management practice (p<0.01). Majority study kebeles Except Bedesa Koricha Chicken keeping
Experience less than 4 years, village chickens with large flock size, chickens aged less than 4
weeks and poor hygienic managements were associated with increased risk of IBD exposure.
However, the association between seroprevalence of IBD and frequency of chicken house
cleaning, household Age and education level, sick chicken isolation practice and the sex of
chicken was not significant (p>0.05). Therefore, community training should be given on
improved chicken health management practices. A further study is important on the
characterization of virus strains
