A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2014 to July 2015 to determine the prevalence and populations of E. coli as well as the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of E. coli O157:H7 isolated from raw milk. Biochemical and serological tests methods were used to confirm E. coli and E. coli O157:H7 and isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility test using the agar disc diffusion method. Out of 380 raw milk samples examined, 129 (33.9%) and 11 (2.9%) were contaminated with E. coli and E. coli O157:H7, respectively. The highest prevalence was recorded in samples obtained from vendors (39.1%, 4.978 ± 0.180 log10/ml) compared with samples from farmers (28.1%, 3.93 ± 0.01 log10/ml) with significant differences (P = 0.02). The frequency of contamination was higher in the samples collected from milk that was stored and transported in plastic containers (39.4%) than in the containers made of stainless steel (23.0%) (P = 0.002). The antimicrobial susceptibility profile showed that E. coli O157:H7 were resistant to tetracycline (81.8%), streptomycin (81.8%), and kanamycin (63.6%). Milk samples were produced and handled under poor hygienic conditions, stored, and transported in inappropriate containers and under temperature abuse conditions leading to high health risk to the consumers. Additional studies would be needed to establish association between the occurrences of E. coli O157:H7 in raw milk and all the risk factors involved in and around Asosa town.

The present study was undertaken to determine the occurrence, distribution and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Salmonella serovars in slaughter beef cattle, slaughterhouse environment and personnel engaged in flaying and evisceration during slaughtering process. A total of 800 samples (each sample type, n = 100) consisting of swabs from hides, slaughterhouse personnel hands at flaying and evisceration, rumen and caecal contents, mesenteric lymph nodes, carcasses and holding pens were collected. Of the total 100 beef cattle examined, 14% were Salmonella positive in caecal content and/or mesenteric lymph nodes. Of the various samples analysed, Salmonella was detected in 31% of hides, 19% of rumen contents, 8% of mesenteric lymph nodes, 6% of caecal contents, 2% of carcass swabs, 9% of palm swabs taken from the hands of personnel in the slaughterhouse during flaying (7%) and evisceration (2%), and in 12% of holding pen swabs. The Salmonella isolates (n = 87) belonged to eight different serovars of which S. Anatum (n = 54) and S. Newport (19) were the major serovars and both serovars were detected in all sample sources except in carcass swabs. Eighteen of the 87 (20.7%) Salmonella serovars consisting of Newport (n = 14), Anatum (n = 3) and Eastbourne (n = 1) were resistant to one or more antimicrobials. Among the antimicrobial resistant Salmonella serovars, S. Newport was multidrug resistant (15.6%) and exhibited resistance to streptomycin, sulphisoxazole and tetracycline.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a known endemic disease of cattle in Ethiopia; however, there is lack of a comprehensive information on the status and distribution of the disease in the country. The objectives of this systematic review and meta-analysis were to provide a pooled prevalence estimate of bTB at a national level, assess the level of in-between variance among study reports and illustrate the spatial distribution pattern in the country. Articles published on bTB from January 2000 to December, 2016 in English language were included in the review. Pubmed, CAB direct, AJOL and Web of Science were the databases used in electronic search. A total of 127 articles were retrieved from online sources, of which 56 articles were selected for data extraction based on the specified inclusion criteria. From these selected published articles, 114 animal level data were extracted for quantitative analysis. A pooled prevalence estimate of bovine tuberculosis in Ethiopia was found to be 5.8% (95% CI: 4.5, 7.5). In a multivariable meta-regression analysis, breed and production system explained 40.9% of the explainable proportion of the in-between study variance computed. Prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in Holstein-Friesians, 21.6% (95% CI: 14.7–30.7), was higher than in local zebus 4.1 (95% CI: 3.4–4.9). Cattle kept under intensive and semi-intensive production systems had higher prevalence, 16.6% (95% CI: 12.4–21.6) of bTB than those kept in extensive livestock production system, 4.6 (95% CI: 3.4–6.2). Bovine tuberculosis is widely distributed across major livestock producing regions of Ethiopia. However, no valid data could be retrieved from Benishanul-Gumuz, Harari and Dire Dawa. Data obtained on bTB from Somali and Gambella regional states are also few and further studies are suggested in these regions. In conclusion, this review showed that bTB in cattle in Ethiopia is widespread with high prevalence in intensive and semi-intensive management systems that keep exotic breeds and their crosses in urban and peri-urban areas. Thus, it is suggested that the design and implementation of bTB control strategies in Ethiopia should prioritize these hotspots in order to reduce the impact of the disease on the growing dairy sector.

BackgroundBovine tuberculosis is among the primary zoonotic disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis which has significant impact on the health of livestock and human. It has been significantly a cause for great economic loss in animal production.MethodologyA cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2014 to June 2016 on 315 cattle in selected areas of eastern Ethiopia, aiming to estimate the occurrence of bovine tuberculosis using comparative intradermal tuberculin skin test and assess cattle owners’ awareness on its public health implication. Random sampling method was applied in order to select animals from farm/household and associated risk factors were recorded before purified protein derivative (PPD) injection. Forty three farm/household owners of tuberculin tested animals were interviewed using pre-tested structured questionnaires.ResultsThe overall prevalence of bovine tuberculosis was 20.3% (n = 64) in dairy cattle at recommended cut off > 4 mm. From a total of 43 farms/households tested, 22 were positive; each farm exhibited at least one tuberculin positive reactor animal with a total herd level prevalence of 51.2%. The prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in individual animal level was significantly different (χ2 = 45.2; P-value = 0.000) in different sites with a higher prevalence (50%) in Dire Dawa. Farming system, herd size and other risk factors were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with bovine tuberculosis occurrence. Of the total interviewed farm owners, only 33% had the knowledge of or had heard about bovine tuberculosis and 23% respondents were aware of the zoonotic importance of the disease. More than 50% of the interviewees had shown their preference of raw milk consumption. Out of the total interviewed households, 3 (7%) farm workers had TB cases that had direct contact with the animals.ConclusionThe study showed bovine tuberculosis is highly prevalent. Associated risk factors contributed to the prevalence of the disease in cattle and its transmission. Moreover, the majority of cattle owners lack awareness about the disease and its public health significance. Awareness rising about the disease, its transmission and zoonotic implication is of great importance for reduction and control measures. Evidence of tuberculosis patient farm attendants calls also for further detail investigation.

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