Assessment of Potential Drug-Drug Interactions and Their Predictors in Chronic Outpatient Department of Dessie Referral Hospital, Dessie, Northeast Ethiopia.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and predictors of Potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) at the chronic outpatient department of Dessie Referral Hospital, Dessie, Northeast Ethiopia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out on the medical records of patients treated in the chronic ambulatory department of Dessie Referral Hospital (DRH), from March 1/2019 to May 30/2019. Ethical clearance was granted from the department of pharmacy, college of medicine, and health sciences, Wollo University. Lexi-comp computer program database was used to detect pDDIs. SPSS version 22 was used to produce a descriptive analysis of the background data and logistic regression to identify predictors of pDDIs. RESULTS: In this study, the medical record of 300 patients has been reviewed and 489 pDDIs have been identified. The prevalence of pDDIs per patient was 1.63. Of all the identified pDDIs, the moderate severity interactions were the majority, 88.55% (n=433) followed by 8.38% (n=41) of minor, 2.66% (n=13) of major, and 0.41% (n=2) of contraindicated drug interactions. Taking three or more drugs at a time has been found as a statistically significant predictor of the occurrence of pDDIs. CONCLUSION: A high rate of moderate severity pDDIs have been recorded. A system of checks and balances should be developed and executed for all those who are involved in prescribing, dispensing, and administration of medications for effective identification and prevention of pDDIs.

Assessment of Major Causes of Calf Mortality in Urban and Periurban Dairy Production System of Ethiopia.

A cross-sectional calf mortality study was conducted in urban and periurban dairy farms in Addis Ababa, special zones of Oromia and Amhara regions in July and August 2015. The objectives of the study were to estimate the annual mortality and to assess the major causes of calf mortality in the dairy farms. One-year retrospective data on calf mortality were collected from 330 farms by face-to-face interview using the pretested and structured questionnaire format and direct observation of farm practices. A logistic regression analysis was performed in order to identify the predictor variables associated with early calf mortality. Data were analysed using Statistical Package, Stata SE for Windows, version 12.0. The annual mean calf mortality from birth-to-weaning was reported as 18.5% (95% CI: 12.6, 24.3%). The prenatal loss due to fetal death and stillbirth was 10.1% (95% CI: 6.7, 13.6%). The overall annual loss due to fetal death and calf preweaning mortality was 26.7% (95% CI: 21.2, 32.2%). Age-specific mortality declined with increased age, and the highest mortality was recorded during the first month of life extending up to the third month of age. Disease was the most important causes of calf mortality (73.2%). Among the diseases, diarrhea (63%) and respiratory disorders (17%) were the important causes of calf mortality. Malpractices in calf management were identified, including restricted colostrum and milk feeding, poor care and supplemental feeding, and poor health management. Interventions in dairy cattle health and farm husbandry are recommended to control calf mortality.

Estimated prevalence and risk factors associated with clinical Lumpy skin disease in north-eastern Ethiopia.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is one of the major livestock disease problems in most areas of Ethiopia. A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2011 to February 2012 in four selected districts of Afar and Tigray regions to estimate the herd-level prevalence of LSD, and to assess its associated risk factors. Herd-owners were selected based on the willingness to provide information to complete the questionnaire. A total of 393 questionnaires were collected. Out of 393 herd-owners, 173 reported having LSD in their herds, giving an estimated herd- and animal-level prevalence of (44%, 95% CI: 37-50%) and (7.4%, 95% CI: 6-8%), respectively. Herd prevalence between regions and among the districts were significantly different (χ(2)=8, P<0.01 and χ(2)=9.9, P<0.01), respectively. The risk factors of LSD occurrence were introduction of a new animal to the herd, herd size, and utilization of communal grazing and watering points. These management characteristics cannot be readily changed in the studied area, hence, disease control should rely on a greater use of effective LSD vaccines.

Sero-prevalence and risk factors study of brucellosis in small ruminants in Southern Zone of Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia.

This study reports a prevalence and risk factor survey of brucellosis in small ruminants in Southern Zone of Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia between October 2011 and April 2012 to determine the sero-prevalence of small-ruminant brucellosis and to identify associated risk factors for the occurrence of disease in small ruminants under extensive production system. Multistage random sampling was followed to select locations, flocks, and individual animals. Laboratory analysis of serum samples provided sero-prevalence estimates for flocks and geographic location. Information on risk factors at the individual and flock level was obtained by examination of individual animal and a questionnaire interview to flock owners. The overall individual animal-level sero-prevalence of brucellosis in small ruminants was 3.5 % and flock level sero-prevalence was 28.3 %, and the within-flock sero-prevalence was ranged from 0 % to 22.2 % based on the Complement Fixation Test. Multivariable logistic regression showed that the major risk factors for flock level sero-positivity were flock size and abortion history. This study showed that small-ruminant brucellosis is prevalent in the study area. Larger flock size and history of previous abortion in the flock were major risk factors identified for sero-positivity of small-ruminant brucellosis.