A study on seroprevalence of caprine brucellosis under three livestock production systems in southern and central Ethiopia.

Caprine brucellosis in Ethiopia is less commonly reported with limited information on the disease status in the country. The objective of this study was therefore to highlight the status of goat brucellosis in three distinctly different livestock production systems of southern and central Ethiopia. A total 3,315 goats of different age and sex, living with other animals in variable flock size, were sampled from 448 flocks raised in sedentary, pastoral and agro-pastoral production systems. Goats were bled aseptically and sera were collected for serial testing using Rose Bengal Plate Test as screening test and subsequently complement fixation test as confirmatory test. Questionnaire and laboratory data were analysed for descriptive, univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis both at individual and flock level (STATA 11). The study revealed an overall animal level seroprevalence of 1.9 % (95 % CI 1.5, 2.4). In sedentary production system, the observed seroprevalence was 0.6 % (95 % CI 0.2, 0.9) while 1.9 % (95 % CI 1.1, 2.7) and 7.6 % (95 % CI 5.1, 10.1) were the proportion of seroreactors for agro-pastoral and pastoral production systems, respectively. The observed prevalence difference between the three production systems was statistically significant (P < 0.05). At the flock level analysis, 11.2 % (95 % CI 8.2, 14.1) of the flocks sampled had at least one seropositive goat among themselves. Like individual level analysis, the highest prevalence of 32.5 % (95 % CI 21.9, 43.0) was recorded for pastoral production system, followed by agro-pastoral, 13.0 % (95 % CI 7.0, 19.0) and sedentary production system, 3.6 % (95% CI 1.3, 6.0). Accordingly, the odds of Brucella seropositivity were higher (OR = 12.8) in pastoral followed by agro-pastoral (OR = 4.0) in relation to sedentary production system. Large numbers of seroreactors were observed in adult age living in larger flocks with other livestock species. However, no difference was noted between male and female goats. Finally, the need for nationwide survey and subsequent designing and implementation of appropriate control measure is suggested.

Muscular Sarcocystis infection in ruminants slaughtered at Municipality abattoir and selected Hotels in Hawassa city, southern Ethiopia: Prevalence and associated risk factors.

Sarcocystosis is a parasitic zoonosis caused by Sarcocystis spp. which are Apicomplexan parasites requiring intermediate and definitive hosts to complete their life cycle. Although the parasite has worldwide distribution in man and many species of animals, the prevalence in most parts of Ethiopia is not clearly known. This cross sectional study was conducted between Nov. 2016 and May 2017 to estimate the prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in ruminants slaughtered in the municipality abattoir and at selected hotels of Hawassa city and to assess the potential risk factors. Data were collected through gross and histopathological examination of myocardial and esophageal muscles sampled from a total of 561 ruminants (176 sheep, 181 goats and 204 cattle). The overall prevalence of Sarcocystis infection in ruminants was 68.98%. All of the cysts were microscopic, and found more frequently (p < .05) in heart (62.08%) than esophageal muscle (45.45%) although concurrent infection of both organs was observed in 33.87% of the ruminants examined. No significant association was noted between Sarcocystis infection and the origin, sex and species of ruminants examined (p > .05). The higher prevalence recorded in the study area can be explained by the abundance of stray dogs, cats and wild carnivores that are roaming in the villages, lack of proper latrine, uncontrolled disposal of condemned offals and carcass, and provision of uncooked meat for dogs and cats. Thus, farmers' awareness creation and strategies targeted at breaking the life cycle of the parasite are required to reduce the prevalence of the parasite and thereby the foreseen zoonotic and economic impact.

Bovine trypanosomosis and Glossina distribution in selected areas of southern part of Rift Valley, Ethiopia.

Cross-sectional study was conducted in 9 selected districts of the southern part the Rift Valley, Ethiopia to estimate the dry period prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis as well as assessment of Glossina species. From a total of 1838 cattle examined for trypanosomosis by buffy coat technique 133 (7.2%) were found infected by trypanosome species. From the total positive animals 66.9 and 33.1% of them accounted to Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma vivax, respectively. Significantly higher prevalence (19.4%., P<0.05) was recorded at Arba-Mnch district. Black colored cattle were the most highly affected (χ(2)=79.35, P<0.05) animals. The overall average PCV value for parasitaemic and aparasitaemic animals was 22.2 (95% CI=21.6-22.7) and 27% (95% CI=26.8-27.2), respectively. The fly caught per trap per day was 1.4 for Glossina species and 2.8 for other biting flies. Two species of Glossina identified namely Glossina pallidipes and Glossina fuscipes.