Prevalence and Risk Factors of Parasitic Gastrointestinal Nematode Infections of Donkeys in Southern Ethiopia.

Gastrointestinal (GIT) parasites cause sickness and mortality in working donkeys, reducing their productivity. A cross-sectional study was done in the Damot Gale district of southern Ethiopia from November 2020 to June 2021 to determine the frequency of donkey GIT nematode parasite infection and to examine its related risk factors. Overall, 514 simple randomly selected donkeys from peasant associations were sampled for the coprological examination of gastrointestinal nematode infection. The flotation technique was employed to identify parasite eggs in feces. The total prevalence of parasitic gastrointestinal nematodes was 71.79% (95% CI: 67.73-75.52). The most prevalent nematodes were Strongyles (37.74%), Parascaris equorum (11.28%), Strongyloides (7.20%), and combined infections of Strongyles and Parascaris (14.01%) and Strongyles and Strongyloides (1.56%). The association between the prevalence of parasitic GIT nematode infections and body conditions score was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Comparatively, donkeys with semi-intensified systems were five times (OR = 5.36) and those with medium body condition were twice (OR = 1.94) had a higher risk of infection than donkeys with intensive systems and good body condition scores, respectively. In conclusion, the current study indicated that gastrointestinal nematode parasites of donkeys are highly prevalent in the study area. Thus, regular deworming, proper housing, and feeding management were recommended to improve the health and productivity of donkeys in the research area.

Isolation and Identification of Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica from Pneumonic Small Ruminants and Their Antibiotic Susceptibility in Haramaya District, Eastern Ethiopia.

Background: Pasteurella species are frequently encountered as serious diseases in small ruminants. It is the main cause of respiratory pasteurellosis in sheep and goats of all age groups. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2022 to April 2023 in Haramaya district, eastern Ethiopia, to isolate and identify Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica and estimate their prevalence, associated risk factors, and antimicrobial sensitivity of isolates in small ruminants using a purposive sampling method. A total of 384 samples (156 nasal swabs from clinic cases and 228 lung swabs from abattoir cases) were collected. STATA 14 software was used to analyze the data. In addition, multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to assess an association of risk factors. Results: Out of the 384 samples examined, 164 were positive for pasteurellosis, resulting in a 42.70% prevalence. Similarly, 63 (38.4%) of the 164 positive results were from nasal swabs, while 101 (61.6%) came from lung samples. M. haemolytica accounted for 126 (76.82%) of the isolates, while P. multocida accounted for 38 (23.17%). Of the 63 nasal swab isolates, 33 (37%) were from goats and 30 (42.8%) were from sheep. And 17 (10.89%) and 46 (29.58%), respectively, were P. multocida and M. haemolytica. Of the 46 (40%) of the 101 (44.3%) isolates of the pneumonic lung, samples were from goats, while 55 (48.47%) were from sheep. In this study, the risk factors (species, age, and body condition score) were found to be significant (p < 0.05). Pasteurella isolates evaluated for antibiotic susceptibility were highly resistant to oxacillin (90.90%), followed by gentamycin (72.72%), and penicillin (63.63%). However, the isolates were highly sensitive to chloramphenicol (90.90%), followed by tetracycline (63.63%), and ampicillin (54.54%). Conclusion: This study showed that M. haemolytica and P. multocida are the common causes of mannheimiosis and pasteurellosis in small ruminants, respectively, and isolates were resistant to commonly used antibiotics in the study area. Thus, an integrated vaccination strategy, antimicrobial resistance monitoring, and avoidance of stress-inducing factors are recommended.

Occurrence, antibiotic resistance profiles and associated risk factors of Klebsiella pneumoniae in poultry farms in selected districts of Somalia Reginal State, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic infection that causes production losses and death in the chicken industry. A cross-sectional study was conducted on exotic chicken breeds reared at the Jigjiga poultry farm from November 2022 to May 2023 to estimate the occurrence, associated risk factors, and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The chickens were selected using systematic random sampling techniques. A total of 384 cloacal swabs were collected aseptically and transported to the laboratory for analysis. For statistical analysis, STATA® version 14.0 statistical software was used. RESULTS: From 384 examined faecal samples, 258 (67.2%) prevalences of Klebsiella pneumoniae were found. Furthermore, the association of the study's risk factors with the prevalence of Klebsiella pneumoniae was explored, and no statistically significant association was identified between sex and age. Nonetheless, relative prevalence at the age level was higher in chickens aged 12 months (67.6%) and Sasso breeds (90.0%). Similarly, male chickens and those raised for meat and egg production had a high prevalence rate of 72.5 and 75.8%, respectively. A total of 30 isolated Klebsiella pneumoniae colonies were tested in vitro for antibiotic sensitivity for six drugs, and it was shown that Klebsiella pneumoniae is moderately sensitive to Penicillin G (43.3%) while having higher resistance to Oxytetracycline (80.0%). CONCLUSIONS: The current findings revealed that the research area had the highest prevalence of Klebsiella pneumoniae, and the isolates were resistant to commonly used drugs in the study area. Thus, a long-term intervention plan, thorough research to determine a nationwide status, as well as further multi-drug resistance patterns and molecular characterization, were urged.

Seroprevalence and molecular detection of foot and mouth disease virus in cattle in selected districts of Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious, endemic, and acute viral cattle ailment that causes major economic damage in Ethiopia. Although several serotypes of the FMD virus have been detected in Ethiopia, there is no documented information about the disease's current serostatus and serotypes circulating in the Wolaita zone. Thus, from March to December 2022, a cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate FMDV seroprevalence, molecular detection, and serotype identification in three Wolaita Zone sites. A multistage sample procedure was used to choose three peasant associations from each study region, namely Wolaita Sodo, Offa district, and Boloso sore district. A systematic random sampling technique was employed to pick 384 cattle from the population for the seroprevalence research, and 10 epithelial tissue samples were purposefully taken from outbreak individuals for molecular detection of FMDV. The sera were examined using 3ABC FMD NSP Competition ELISA to find antibodies against FMDV non-structural proteins, whereas epithelial tissue samples were analyzed for molecular detection using real-time RT-PCR, and sandwich ELISA was used to determine the circulating serotypes. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to evaluate the associated risk variables. The total seroprevalence of FMD in cattle was 46.88% (95% CI 41.86-51.88), with Wolaita Sodo Town having the highest seroprevalence (63.28%). As a consequence, multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that animal age, herd size, and interaction with wildlife were all substantially related to FMD seroprevalence (p < 0.05). During molecular detection, only SAT-2 serotypes were found in 10 tissue samples. Thus, investigating FMD outbreaks and identifying serotypes and risk factors for seropositivity are critical steps in developing effective control and prevention strategies based on the kind of circulating serotype. Moreover, further research for animal species other than cattle was encouraged.

Epidemiological study on cattle trypanosomiasis and its vectors distributions in the Gambella regional state, southwestern Ethiopia.

African animal trypanosomosis is a parasitic disease that causes significant economic losses in livestock due to anaemia, loss of condition, emaciation, and mortality. It is a key impediment to increased cattle output and productivity in Ethiopia. Cross-sectional entomological and parasitological studies were performed in the Gambella Region state of southwestern Ethiopia to estimate the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis, apparent fly density, and potential risk factors. Blood samples were taken from 546 cattle for the parasitological study and analyzed using the buffy coat technique and stained with Giemsa. A total of 189 biconical (89) and NGU (100) traps were deployed in the specified districts for the entomological survey. The overall prevalence of trypanosomosis at the animal level was 5.5% (95% CI: 3.86-7.75). Trypanosoma vivax (50.0%), T. congolense (30.0%), T. brucei (20.0%), and no mixed trypanosome species were found. The prevalence of trypanosomosis was significantly (p < 0.05) affected by altitude, body score conditions, age, mean packed cell volume (PCV), and peasant associations, while sex and coat color had no significant effect. According to the entomological survey results, a total of 2303 flies were captured and identified as tsetse (Glossina pallidipes (5.3%)) and G. fuscipes fuscipes (3.3%) and other biting flies (Tabanus (60.1%) and Stomoxys (31.3%)). In the current study, the overall apparent density was 4.1 flies/trap/day. This study shows that trypanosomosis remains a significant cattle disease in the Gambella regional state even during the dry season. Thus, the findings support the necessity to improve vector and parasite control measures in the area.

Study on Cattle Trematodiasis and Related Risk Factors in Damot Sore District, Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

Trematodes are chronic, debilitating diseases in livestock, causing significant economic losses worldwide. From mid-December 2021 to May 2022, a cross-sectional study was carried out in the Damot Sore District to estimate the prevalence of trematode infections in cattle and associated risk factors. Trematode eggs were found in 100 of the 384 faecal samples tested, with an overall prevalence of 26.04% (95% CI: 21.88-30.69%). The prevalence for Fasciola, Paramphistome, and Schistosoma species were 12.50%, 5.21%, and 0, respectively. Moreover, the infection rate with two parasites was 8.33%. The data were then examined further using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis. As a result, age was the only potential predictor identified to influence trematode infections in cattle among the potential predictors considered. Furthermore, old cattle were more likely to be infected with trematodiasis nearly 12 times (OR = 11.5) that of young cattle, and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05), whereas other risk factors considered were statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). According to the findings of this study, cattle trematodiasis is a moderately common disease in the study area. As a result, additional research on the meteorological conditions of snail infection was forwarded, along with other points to reduce the disease problem in livestock production.

Study on distribution of Ixodid ticks of cattle in Bedele District, South Western Ethiopia.

Background: Ticks cause substantial losses in cattle production, in terms of diseases, and reduced productivity, and are economically the most important ectoparasites of cattle. Methods: A cross-section study was conducted from January 2022 to August 2022 in the Bedele district to identify genera and species of Ixodid ticks infesting cattle and determine the prevalence concerning host-related factors. Adult ixodid ticks were collected from 384 randomly selected cattle by using forceps and preserved in separate collecting bottles with 70% ethyl alcohol. The collected ticks were identified under stereomicroscope into species based on their morphology. Results: Out of the 384 cattle examined, 276 (71.9%) were found with being infested by one or more tick species. A total of 3192 ticks were collected and identified. Three genera; namely Amblyomma, Boophilus and Rhipicephalus, and four species (Amb. cohaerence, Boophilus decoloratus, Amb. variegatem, and Rhip. evertsi evertsi) were identified with a prevalence rate of 44.8%, 26.8%, 14.1%, and 14% respectively. The respective prevalence for assessed risk factors was: 71.32%, 68.75%, 74.72%, 72.72%, 82.02%, 68.81%, 72.97%, 69.19%, 75.25%, 72.25%, 71.34%, 72.93%, 67.65%, 75.00% Bedele Town, Haro, Ilike Kararo, Obolo Bachara, Cross Breed, Local Breed, Young, Adult, Old, Male, Female, Poor, Medium, and Good, respectively. Only the association between the breed of cattle is statistically significant in terms of the prevalence of ticks (p < 0.05), and others risk factors (Kebele, age, sex, and body condition) were statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). Tick species were highly distributed on the udder part with a prevalence of (26.3%) and least in the vulva body region of the cattle (2.3%). Conclusions: The present study indicated there is a high prevalence of ixodid tick infestation, especially in local cattle breeds, adults, males, poor body condition, and Bedele town. In line with this, further studies on factors affecting tick burden and tick control strategies are recommended.