Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Infectious Bronchitis Virus in Chicken in Northwest Ethiopia.

Avian infectious bronchitis virus is a highly contagious disease occurring in respiratory, urogenital, and reproductive tissues of chicken causing considerable losses due to death, egg drop, and reduced production. This preliminary study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of antibodies against infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and to assess the potential risk factors in chickens of northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2020 to June 2021. A total of 768 serum samples from three zones were collected. To investigate the presence of antibodies against IBV, the indirect ELISA serological test was applied. Positivity for anti-IBV antibodies was observed in 23.96% (95% CI: 20.98-27.14) of the samples. The mixed-effect logistic regression analysis of potential risk factors showed that IBV prevalence was significantly higher in young chickens than adults (p < 0.001) and higher in intensive farm type than in extensive type (p < 0.001). Based on the production purposes of the chickens, the odds of seropositivity for IB was significantly higher in layers than in broilers (p < 0.001) and dual purposes (p < 0.001). This study revealed higher seroprevalence in farms which had the "all-in-all-out" rearing method than in farms with different batches in one house with a significant difference (p < 0.001), higher seroprevalence in the poor ventilated type than in good ones (p < 0.001), and higher seroprevalence in the houses that did not remove used litter at all than houses of completely disposed and partially disposed litter (p=0.002). Moreover, disinfection of houses had significant effect on the occurrence of IB. Having personal protective equipment was significantly affecting the occurrence of IB, being higher in the farms that have no wearing clothes and shoe than in those having wearing clothes and shoe (p=0.002). In conclusion, the seroprevalence finding in the present study indicated that the organism is circulating among the population of chickens and high enough to cause significant economic losses Therefore, poultry houses should be cleaned, disinfected, and well ventilated and farm attendants should have separate farm shoe and clothes. Further studies on the virus isolation and molecular characterization of the target gene are needed in the study area.

Short communication: Plasma concentration and tissue mRNA expression of haptoglobin in neonatal calves.

Haptoglobin (Hp), one of the major positive acute phase proteins in cattle, is released in response to proinflammatory cytokines. Colostrum intake might influence the response of the innate immune system, including Hp gene expression. Thus, we hypothesized that plasma concentrations and tissue mRNA expression of Hp in neonatal calves might be influenced by early nutrition in the neonatal calf and would thus be greater if receiving colostrum compared with milk-based formula. Two trials were performed. In trial 1, German Holstein calves were fed either colostrum (COL; n = 7) or milk-based formula (FOR; n = 7) up to 4 d of life. Blood was sampled from d 1 to 4 before morning feeding and before and 2 h after feeding on d 4. Tissue samples from liver, kidney fat, duodenum, and ileum were collected after slaughter on d 4 at 2 h after feeding. In trial 2, calves born preterm (n = 7) or at term (n = 7) received colostrum only at 24 h post natum. Blood was sampled at birth, and before and 2 h after feeding. Tissue samples from liver and kidney fat were collected after slaughter at 26 h after birth. Blood plasma, colostrum, and formula Hp concentrations were determined using a competitive ELISA. Tissue expression of Hp mRNA was quantified by real-time quantitative PCR. The formula contained much less Hp (≤0.5 µg/mL) than colostrum (69.3, 93.9, and 20.4 µg/mL from d 1 to d 3, respectively). In trial 1, before colostrum or formula feeding, plasma concentrations of Hp were comparable in both groups. Plasma Hp increased in FOR after feeding, resulting in greater or a trend for greater plasma Hp concentrations in FOR than in COL calves. The mRNA abundance of Hp in liver and kidney fat was 3- and 2.2-fold greater in FOR than in COL calves, respectively, whereas duodenal and ileal abundance of Hp mRNA did not differ between groups. In trial 2, plasma Hp concentrations decreased slightly over time in term calves, but they did not differ in both groups before and 2 h after feeding on d 2. The abundance of Hp mRNA in liver was 5.3-fold greater in term than in preterm calves, whereas its abundance in kidney fat did not differ between groups. Contrasting our hypothesis, formula, but not colostrum feeding was associated with greater Hp mRNA abundance in liver and adipose tissue, indicating that the response of innate immune system seems to be modulated by formula feeding because of the lack of immunoglobulin intake. The lower hepatic abundance of Hp mRNA in preterm calves than in term calves may indicate lower synthetic capacity of the liver for Hp in preterm calves shortly after birth.

Quality of intrapartum care at Mulago national referral hospital, Uganda: clients' perspective.

BACKGROUND: Quality of intrapartum care is an important intervention towards increasing clients' utilization of skilled attendance at birth and accelerating improvements in newborn's and maternal survival and wellbeing. Ensuring quality of care is one of the key challenges facing maternal and neonatal services in Uganda. The study assessed quality of intrapartum care services in the general labor ward of the Mulago national referral and teaching hospital in Uganda from clients' perspective. METHODS: A cross sectional study was conducted using face to face interviews at discharge with 384 systematically selected clients, who delivered in general labor ward at Mulago hospital during May, 2012. Data analysis was done using STATA Version (10) software. Means and median general index scores for quality of intrapartum care services were calculated. Linear regression models were used to determine factors associated with quality of care. RESULTS: Overall, quality of intrapartum care mean index score was 49.4 (standard deviation (sd) 15.46, and the median (interquartile range (IQR)) was 49.1 (37.5-58.9). Median index scores (IQR) per selected quality of care indicators were; dignity and respect 75 (50-87.5); relief of pain and suffering 71.4 (42.8-85.7); information 42.1 (31.6-55.3); privacy and confidentiality 33.3 (1-66.7); and involvement in decision making 16.7 (1-33.3). On average, higher educational level (college/university) (ß: 6.81, 95% CI: 0.85-15.46) and rural residence of clients (ß: 5.67, 95% CI: 0.95-10.3) were statistically associated with higher quality scores. CONCLUSION: This study has revealed that quality of intrapartum care services from clients' perspective was low. Improvements should be focused on involving clients in decision making, provision of information about their conditions and care, and provision of privacy and confidentiality. There is also need to improve the number and availability of health care providers in the labor ward.

Viability evaluation of freeze dried and suspension anthrax spore vaccine formulations stored at different temperatures.

Anthrax is endemic in Ethiopia with sporadic outbreaks despite the regular vaccination of domestic livestock. This has raised concerns on the effectiveness of the vaccination strategy which may be associated with breaches in the vaccine cold chain maintenance. This study was aimed at demonstrating the tolerance of anthrax vaccine to cold chain breaches through evaluation of viable spore counts expressed as colony forming units per mL (CFU/mL) of freeze-dried and suspension anthrax vaccines stored at 5 °C, 20 °C and 37 °C for up to 6 months. Both vaccine formulations maintained above the recommended minimum required titre (2 × 106 culturable spores per dose for cattle, buffaloes and horses, and not <1 × 106 for sheep and goats) for up to 6 months at 5 °C storage. In storage at 20 °C, the viability of freeze-dried anthrax vaccine maintained the minimum required titre up to 6 months while up to 90 days in case of the suspension formulation. Both types of vaccine formulations maintained the minimum titre per dose for up to 30 days at 37 °C storage. Generally, both vaccine formulations showed similar trends in titre fall in all of the three storage temperatures (5 °C, 20 °C and 37 °C) as observed in the almost linearly overlapping 95% confidence intervals (CI) up to day 90 at 5 °C and 20 °C storages while up to day 30 at 37 °C storage. However, a significant (P < 0.05) drop in titre was observed after day 90 for storages at 5 °C and 20 °C, and after day 30 for 37 °C storage as observed in the non overlapping 95% CI from the average titres of previous time points. This study showed that if temperature excursion occurs above the recommended temperature range (4-8 °C) during storage or transport, the vaccine should remain effective and can still be used in vaccination programs.

Laboratory system strengthening and quality improvement in Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: In 2010, a National Laboratory Strategic Plan was set forth in Ethiopia to strengthen laboratory quality systems and set the stage for laboratory accreditation. As a result, the Strengthening Laboratory Management Toward Accreditation (SLMTA) programme was initiated in 45 Ethiopian laboratories. OBJECTIVES: This article discusses the implementation of the programme, the findings from the evaluation process and key challenges. METHODS: The 45 laboratories were divided into two consecutive cohorts and staff from each laboratory participated in SLMTA training and improvement projects. The average amount of supportive supervision conducted in the laboratories was 68 hours for cohort I and two hours for cohort II. Baseline and exit audits were conducted in 44 of the laboratories and percent compliance was determined using a checklist with scores divided into zero- to five-star rating levels. RESULTS: Improvements, ranging from < 1 to 51 percentage points, were noted in 42 laboratories, whilst decreases were recorded in two. The average scores at the baseline and exit audits were 40% and 58% for cohort I (p < 0.01); and 42% and 53% for cohort II (p < 0.01), respectively. The p-value for difference between cohorts was 0.07. At the exit audit, 61% of the first and 48% of the second cohort laboratories achieved an increase in star rating. Poor awareness, lack of harmonisation with other facility activities and the absence of a quality manual were challenges identified. CONCLUSION: Improvements resulting from SLMTA implementation are encouraging. Continuous advocacy at all levels of the health system is needed to ensure involvement of stakeholders and integration with other improvement initiatives and routine activities.

Alcohol preference: association with reduced striatal nicotinic receptors.

This study was designed to determine whether inherent alcohol preference is associated with differential expression of central nicotinic receptors. [(3)H]Cytisine and [(125)I]alpha-bungarotoxin binding-site, ligands selective for alpha4beta2 and alpha7 nicotinic receptor subtypes, respectively, were determined in various brain regions of alcohol-preferring (P) and non-preferring (NP) rats. Only the striatum of P rats had a reduction in the number of binding sites for both ligands, compared to NP rats. The data suggest a link between striatal nicotinic receptors and alcohol preference.