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.

Bovine cysticercosis and its food safety implications in Harari People's National Regional State, eastern Ethiopia.

Taenia saginata cysticercosis is one of the zoonotic diseases that threaten food safety and food security, particularly in developing countries. A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence and cyst distribution in infected cattle, and food safety implications of Taenia saginata cysticercosis in Harari People's National Regional State, eastern Ethiopia. Post-mortem inspection of carcasses and organs of slaughtered cattle in Harar Municipal Abattoir, cyst viability tests and interviews with randomly selected meat consumers were undertaken. The post-mortem inspection showed that of the 898 local zebu cattle slaughtered for human consumption and examined for the presence of cysticerci of T. saginata, 19.7% (177/898; 95% CI = 17.2-22.5) harboured at least one cyst in the muscles or organs inspected. Of the edible anatomical sites with cysticerci, shoulder muscle, liver and heart together represented 65.4%, 66.0% and 65.4% respectively of relative prevalence, total cyst count and cyst viability. These edible sites are preferred above others by local people for preparation and consumption of raw or inadequately cooked meat dishes that are locally served as kurt, kitffo and dullet. The interviews revealed that among the 300 study participants, 182 (60.7%) had been infected by taeniosis at least once during the previous year and of these 99.0% had eaten raw or undercooked beef, the majority (88.3%) obtained from butchers assumed to provide officially inspected meat that was fit for consumption. This indicated that existing meat inspection processes were inadequate to prevent carcasses infected with T. saginata cysticerci from reaching consumers. The high prevalence of viable cysts in the edible parts of beef together with the widespread consumption of raw or undercooked beef indicated the importance of T. saginata cysticercosis as a food safety problem in eastern Ethiopia. The promotion of policies to upgrade existing meat inspection procedures and public education to ensure effective prevention of T. saginata taeniosis in humans were recommended.

Seroepidemiological study of caprine toxoplasmosis in East and West Shewa Zones, Oromia Regional State, Central Ethiopia.

Toxoplasmosis is a global zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular apicomplexan parasite. The objectives of this study were to estimate the animal and flock level seroprevalence and risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis in goats of Central Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, goats are economically important animals used for meat and milk production. The study was cross-sectional and 927 blood samples from 187 goat flocks were collected to examine T. gondii specific IgG antibodies by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A questionnaire was used to collect data on the potential risk factors. The study revealed flock and animal level seroprevalence of 58.3% (109/187; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 51.16, 65.42) and 19.7% (183/927; 95% CI: 17.17, 22.31), respectively. The likelihood of acquiring T. gondii infection was higher in semi-intensively managed goats (Odds ratio [OR]=2.48, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14, 5.37; P=0.022) than in extensively managed goats, in females than in males (OR=1.84, 95% CI: 1.16, 2.92; P=0.010), in adults than in young animals (OR=2.00, 95% CI: 1.21, 3.28; P=0.006), in small than in large flocks (OR=2.03, 95% CI: 1.03, 3.98; P=0.040), in goats kept under sedentary (OR=2.81, 95% CI: 1.41, 5.59; P=0.003) and agropastoral farming system (OR=3.62, 95% CI: 1.83, 7.18; P<0.001) than pastoral farming system and in goats allowed to drink water from the tap than those drinking from river and stagnant water bodies (OR=9.25, 95% CI: 3.04, 28.15; P<0.001). Our study indicates that exposure of goats to oocysts of T. gondii is widespread. We recommend further studies to determine the genotype of the parasite, public health and economic impacts of toxoplasmosis and the role of raw goat meat and milk as a source of infection for consumers.

Antimicrobial resistance pattern of Salmonella serotypes isolated from food items and personnel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Antimicrobial susceptibility test of 98 isolates of Salmonella was assayed from September 2003 to February 2004 using the guidelines of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS).The result revealed that 32.7% of Salmonella isolates were resistant to one or more of the 24 antimicrobials tested. Generally resistance for 13 different antimicrobial drugs was recognized. The most common resistance was to streptomycin (24/32, 75%), ampicillin (19/32, 59.4%), tetracycline (15/32, 46.9%), spectinomycin (13/32, 40.6%) and sulfisoxazole (13/32, 40.6%). All the three Salmonella Kentucky isolates showed resistance to at least 8 antimicrobials. Out of the 12 Salmonella Braenderup isolates, 10 (83.3%) showed multidrug resistance to ampicillin, spectinomycin, streptomycin, sulfisoxazole, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and trimethoprim. Among the 8 S. Hadar isolates 7 (86.5%) showed antimicrobial resistance. All the 6 S. Dublin isolates were resistant to carbadox (100%). All the 6 S. Haifa isolates were resistant for at least ampicillin, streptomycin and tetracycline. Up to ten different antimicrobial resistances pattern was observed. Multiple antimicrobial drug resistance was observed in 23 Salmonella isolates (23.5%). The level of antimicrobial resistance was significantly higher for isolates from chicken carcass (18/29, 62.1%) and pork isolates (5/22, 22.7%) (p = 0.003). The findings of the present study ascertain that significant proportion Salmonella isolates have developed resistance for routinely prescribed antimicrobial drugs and poses considerable health hazards to the consumers unless prudent control measures are instituted.