Study on small ruminant brucellosis and owners awareness in two selected districts of southern region, Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Brucellosis is one of the infectious diseases that has the greatest impact on the productivity of sheep and goats. A cross-sectional study followed by a simple random sampling technique was used to investigate the seroprevalence of brucellosis (Rose Bengal plate test; RBPT and complement fixation test; CFT) in small ruminants and its related risk variables from November 2019 to June 2020 in Kolme and Abala Abaya districts. A questionnaire was also given to owners to assess their existing knowledge of the disease. RESULT: Using the RBPT and CFT, 28 (4.1%) and 23 (3.33%) of the 690 animals were found to be seropositive for brucellosis, respectively. In this study, the seroprevalence of brucellosis detected in the Kolme district (5.3%) was greater when compared to Abala Abaya (1.0%). The odds of Brucella infection were greater for goats (odds ratio [OR] 6.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 16 0.8-44.9) than for sheep. The odds of adult animals (OR 0.05, 95% CI 0.03-0.07) being positive for brucellosis was higher than young animals. A statistically significant difference in the seropositivity of brucellosis was detected in univariate logistic regression among districts, different age groups, herd size, parity number, and reproductive health problems except for species and sex, but in multivariate logistic regression, only reproductive health problems were revealed a statistically significant difference. Out of 138 families, 100% of respondents were unaware of brucellosis, 94.5% drink raw milk, and 74% handle animals with retained fetal membranes with their bare hands. CONCLUSION: This study showed that brucellosis was a widely spread disease in the study areas and poses a substantial public health danger. To reduce the spread of the disease in small ruminants, public health risks, and economic losses, stringent vaccination application and awareness of personal hygiene are critical.

Bovine Mastitis: Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Bacterial Pathogens Isolated in Lactating Cows in Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

PURPOSE: Mastitis is a disease known to cause a great deal of loss of production and has a major economic impact. In the study area, there is little current information on bovine mastitis. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the overall prevalence of bovine mastitis and its associated risk factors and isolate the major pathogenic bacteria. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from February 2020 to September 2020 in selected dairy farms of Gamo Zone, southern Ethiopia. A total of 422 lactating cows were diagnosed for mastitis using the California mastitis test, clinical examination, and bacteriological methods. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of bovine mastitis determined in the area was 17.1% (72 of 422), of which 1.9% (eight of 422) was clinical and 15.2% (64 of 422) subclinical. Of 1,662 quarters examined, 7.94% (132) were positive. Bacteriological methods were also used to isolate the major pathogenic bacterial species associated with bovine mastitis. From 72 composite milk samples, growth of six different groups of bacteria was recorded in 64 (88.9%) samples. The most predominant bacterial pathogens isolated were Staphylococcus aureus (42.6%), ahead of Streptococcus spp. (26.2%), non-aureus staphylococci (14.8%), and Escherichia coli (11.5%). Salmonella spp. (3.3%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (1.6%) were the least isolated bacterial pathogens. Among risk factors, breed, parity, udder depth, and tick infestation of the udder showed statistically significant differences (P<0.05) regarding the occurrence of mastitis. CONCLUSION: The current study revealed that mastitis is one of the health problems affecting dairy cows in Gamo. Enhancing the awareness of dairy farmers, regular screening, and improving hygienic conditions are critically important to control and prevent bovine mastitis in the study area.

Sero-prevalence of Newcastle disease and associated risk factors in chickens at backyard chicken production Kindo Koisha, Wolaita zone, Southern Ethiopia.

Newcastle disease (ND) is a serious infectious disease of poultry caused by virulent strains of Avian Paramyxovirus-1 and has a substantial impact on villages where people's livelihood depends upon poultry farming in several developing countries including Ethiopia. In the district of the study area, no previous studies have been conducted. Thus, the aim of the present study was to estimate individual and household flock level seroprevalence and risk factors for ND in unvaccinated backyard chickens in Kindo Koisha district, Wolaita zone, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study design was conducted. For the study, household flocks were sampled as a cluster, and backyard chickens within the cluster with an age of more than 3 months were sampled. A total of 598 blood samples were collected from 86 household flocks during the study period. Serum samples were tested for ND antibodies using an Indirect-Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay. The overall seroprevalence of ND virus at individual and flock level was 17.06% (95% CI: 14.25-20.29%) and 73.26% (95% CI: 62.79-81.64%), respectively. The ND seropositivity and associated risk factors were assessed at the individual bird and flock level by using ordinary and mixed effect logistic regression, respectively. Ordinary logistic regression revealed that crossbreed chickens had significantly higher odds of ND seropositivity than local breeds, with an odds ratio of 2.15 (95% CI: 1.54-3.00; p < 0.001). The odds of ND seropositivity was significantly higher in backyard chickens which belongs flock size >9 in comparison to <9 with an odds ratio of 3.7 (95% CI: 1.12-12.30; p < 0.031). The potential flock level risk factors related to ND seropositivity in this study were flock size, chicken house cleaning frequency, water source for chickens, dead chicken disposal practice, and distance to the next neighbor household, mixing with wild birds and owning pets. In conclusion, the current study generates significant information on the seroprevalence and the potential risk factors associated with ND at individual and flock level in Kindo Koisha district, Wolaita zone. Consequently, ND vaccination campaigns should be launched, and effective extension programs should also be provided to raise awareness about the disease.

Epizootological study of small ruminant gastrointestinal strongyles in Gamo-Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia.

The study was conducted with the objective to estimate the prevalence of gastrointestinal strongyles and identifying the prevailing strongyle species Gamo-Gofa Zone. A total of 598 animals (241 sheep and 357 goats) and 45 animals (20 sheep and 25 goats) were examined coproscopically and by post mortem, respectively. The overall coproscopic prevalence of strongylosis in the study area was 51.4 %. Strongyles were more prevalent in sheep than goats (95 % CI is 74.6-84.8 % and 58.6-68.6 % for sheep and goats, respectively; P < 0.05). A higher prevalence (P < 0.05) of strongyles infection was recorded in the midland and highland than the lowland, and in wet season than the dry season. The mean fecal egg count was found to be significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the midland area (908.7 ± 94.5) and in wet season (1,033.7 ± 84.2). The post mortem examination result indicated that the overall prevalence of gastrointestinal strongyles was 97.7 %; and a total of 11 strongyle species were identified of which Trichostrongylus axei, Teladorsagia species, Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Haemonchus contortus were the dominant and with higher load. During this study infection with multiple parasites, 3 and more 3, species were recorded in about 68 % goats and 85 % sheep. This study revealed the very high strongyle prevalence and higher proportion of multiple parasitism both in sheep and goats. Hence, it suggests the need to the institution of various control measures like strategic anthelmintic treatment for efficient utilization of the available small ruminant resources.