A preliminary survey of major diseases of ruminants and management practices in Western Tigray province, northern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Despite the highest population, the productivity of Ethiopian livestock is low, and the direct contribution to the national economy is limited. Poor genetic potential, shortage of feed in quantity and quality, poor health care and management practices are the main contributors to low productivity and production. Data on animal disease and management practices are not in place, in this regard; we estimate the burden of animal health ailments and management practices in ruminants via simple cross-sectional study design in randomly selected peasant associations in western Tigray of northern Ethiopia. RESULTS: A preliminary disease survey in ruminants and their management practices comprising of cattle, sheep and goats was undertaken to evaluate the existence, burden of ruminant diseases and management practices. A total of 121 randomly selected household respondents of Maikhadrah and Bakhar (26.2%), Dansha (19.7%), Adi-Hirdi (18.0%), Adi-Remets and Inda-Selassie (36.1%) sub-districts were inspected throughout the study period. Most (81%) of farmers feed their animals on free grazing in the open environment travelling from highlands and midlands to lowlands in search of adequate feed (different species of grasses) and crop residues during the wet season up to the beginning of the dry season. Majority of farmers (43.8%) had veterinary access from governmental veterinary officers. Thirty-four (33.9%) of the respondents got veterinary access from illegal drug dealers in mini shops or market. Among the major disease constraints identified; Tick infestation (89.3%), lice infestation (68.6%) mange mite infestation (77.7%) lumpy skin disease (LSD) (42.1%), trypanasomiasis (62.8%) bovine pasteurellosis (52.1) mastitis (13.2%), sheep and goat pox (15.7), abortion (19.0%), dystocia (24.8%), retained fetal membrane (25.6%), prolapsed uterus (13.2%) delayed heat period (38.8%) were most endemic ailments directly affecting livestock production and farmers livelihood. CONCLUSION: In conclusion management practices in livestock production is poor to a large extent. Burden and endemicity of livestock diseases are substantially higher. The data obtained could be the source of facts for planners in animal health service delivery system in this sub region.

A case report on recurrent appendicitis: An often forgotten and atypical cause of recurrent abdominal pain.

INTRODUCTION: Recurrent appendicitis is a disease process, distinct from acute appendicitis, which occurs with an approximate incidence of 10%. This clinical entity can pose diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma for clinicians resulting in delayed diagnosis and severe complications. PRESENTATION OF CASE: Herein, we described a case of recurrent appendicitis with a history of 18 years of right lower quadrant (RLQ) abdominal pain with very mild tenderness that we encountered in our hospital in January 2016, which has been misjudged as other abdominal conditions and got complete relief after appendectomy. The case report could help to improve the awareness of medical practitioners who come across similar cases so that they can consider recurrent appendicitis in their differential diagnosis; and hence outline appropriate diagnosis as well as early medical interventions. DISCUSSION: Recurrent appendicitis can be missed or delayed secondary to atypical presentation or prior treatment with antibiotics, which may lead to resolution of the infection. Missed diagnosis can lead to serious complications such as perforation, abscess formation and peritonitis. Medical practitioners who encounter patients with recurrent right flank pains with an extended duration should suspect for recurrent appendicitis and carefully analyze patient history as well as line up their diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Therefore, recurrent appendicitis should be considered as differential diagnosis in patients with recurring right lower quadrant abdominal pain and mild/or no tenderness.

High Incidence of Human Rabies Exposure in Northwestern Tigray, Ethiopia: A Four-Year Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Rabies is a fatal zoonotic disease that has been known in Ethiopia for centuries in society as "Mad Dog Disease". It is an important disease with veterinary and public health significance in the North western zone of Tigray where previous studies have not been conducted. Frequent occurrence of outbreaks in the area led the researchers to carry out a four year retrospective study to estimate the incidence of human rabies exposure in Northwestern Tigray, Ethiopia. METHODOLOGY: A referent study was conducted on human rabies exposure cases recorded from 2012 to 2015 at Suhul hospital, Shire Endaselase, Northwestern Tigray, Ethiopia. Exposure cases included in this research constituted victims bitten by unprovoked dogs and who received post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) at the hospital. Two thousand one hundred eighty human rabies exposure cases retrieved from the rabies case database were included in this study. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: The majority of the exposed cases were males (1363/2180, 63%). Age wise, the most exposed age group was ≥15 years in all the study years: 166 (58%), 335 (65%), 492 (66%) and 394 (63%) in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. Similarly, exposure cases for human rabies increased with age in both males and females across the study years. The incidence of human rabies exposure cases calculated per 100,000 populations was 35.8, 63.0, 89.8 and 73.1 in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that being male was a risk for human rabies exposure in all the study years. CONCLUSION: The study discovered the highest annual human rabies exposure incidence in Ethiopia. This suggests an urgent need for synergistic efforts of human and animal health sectors to implement prevention and control strategies in this area.