Background Staphylococcus species cause mastitis and wound infection in livestock and food poisoning in humans through ingestion of contaminated foods, including meat and dairy products. They are evolving pathogens in that they readily acquire drug resistance, and multiple drug-resistant (MDR) isolates are increasing in human and veterinary healthcare. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of Staphylococci and their drug resistance in dairy farms and abattoir settings of Addis Ababa.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 193 samples of milk, meat, equipment and humans working in the dairy farms and abattoir were collected (dairy farms = 72 and abattoir sources = 121). Staphylococcus isolation and identification at the species level was done according to ISO-6888-3 using biochemical characteristics. An antimicrobial susceptibility test was conducted for 43 of the isolates using 15 antimicrobial agents commonly used for humans and livestock by the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method following CLSI guidelines.Results Staphylococcus organism were isolated from 92 (47.7%) of the total 193 samples, 50% in the dairy farms and 46.3% in the abattoir. The isolated species were S. aureus (n = 31; 16.1%), S. intermedius (n = 21; 10.9%), S. hyicus (n = 16; 8.3%), and coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CNS) (n = 24; 12.4%). Gentamycin was effective drug as all isolates (n = 43; 100%) were susceptible to it and followed by kanamycin (n = 39; 90.7%). However, the majority of the isolates showed resistance to penicillin-G (95.3%), nalidixic acid (88.4%), cloxacillin (79.1%), vancomycin (65.1%) and cefoxitin (55.8%). Of the 15 S. aureus tested for drug susceptibility, 73.3% of them were phenotypically resistant to vancomycin (VRSA) and all of the 15 isolates showed multi-drug resistance (MDR) to >3 drugs. Also, all of the tested CNS (100%), S. hyicus (100%) and the majority of S. intermedius isolates (88.9%) developed MDR.ConclusionAlarmingly, the Staphylococcus isolates circulating in the dairy farms and abattoir in the study area harbor MDR. High level of Staphylococcus species isolation from personnel and equipment besides food (meat and milk) samples in dairy farms and abattoir settings reveals that the hygiene practice in the dairy farm and abattoir is substandard. Prudent drug use and improved hygienic practice is recommended in the dairy farms and abattoir to safeguard the public from the risk of acquiring infections and MDR pathogenic Staphylococcus.

Brucellosis is an important infectious re-emerging bacterial zoonosis of public health and economic significance. It affects the health and productivity of livestock as well as that of their owners and can have a deep economic impact. Brucellosis in cattle is usually caused by bio-vars of Brucella abortus. In some countries, particularly in southern Europe and western Asia, where cattle are kept in close association with sheep or goats, infection can also be caused by B. melitensis. Occasionally, B suis may cause a chronic infection in the mammary gland of cattle, but it has not been reported to cause abortion or spread to other animals. Humans are almost exclusively exposed to brucellosis through contact with animals and food of animal origin, transmitted via human contact with secretions, predominantly through calving and abortions. The disease can also be spread through the consumption of contaminated, unpasteurized dairy products. Globally, 500000 cases of human brucellosis are reported annually. The prevalence of human brucellosis differs between areas and has been reported to vary with standards of personal and environmental hygiene, animal husbandry practices, and species of the causative agent and local methods of food processing. The most common signs and symptoms of human brucellosis are fever, asthenia, myalgia, arthralgia, sweats, lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Endemic brucellosis in low-income countries of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia has multiple economic implications across agriculture and public health and broader socioeconomic development sectors. It is an economically important disease of livestock causing reproductive wastage through infertility, delayed heat, loss of calves, reduced meat and milk production, culling and economic losses. Microscopic examination of stained smears can be useful for a presumptive diagnosis, particularly if the direct examination supported by other tests. Mass vaccination is the mainstay of brucellosis control in livestock, but should be combined with other measures that limit the spread of the pathogen, allow identification of animals and herds, and increase community participation. Human brucellosis is usually prevented by controlling the infection in animals; Pasteurization of dairy products is an important safety measure where this disease is endemic.

A cross sectional study was conducted between February, 2014 and April, 2014 to isolate and identify Staphylococcus from dairy cattle farms and municipal abattoir; and to evaluate antimicrobial sensitivity for isolates in and around Asella, Ethiopia. An over all of 181 samples were collected and processed from nine dairy cattle farms (87) and seven municipal abattoir visits (94). Accordingly, 42 (23.2%) udder milk, 9 (5.0%) tank milk, 9 (5.0%) polled bucket swab, 9 (5.0%) tank swab, 9 (5.0%) polled hand swab, 9 (5.0%) polled nasal swab, from dairy cattle farms; and 66 (36.5%) meat swab, 7 (3.9%) polled knife swab, 7 (3.9%) polled slaughter line swab, 7 (3.9%) polled hand swab and 7 (3.9%) polled nasal swab from municipal abattoir visits were collected. The result showed the overall proportion of Staphylococcus was 89 (49.2%). Staphylococcal species were more predominant in abattoir 50/94 (53.2%) than farms 39/87 (44.8%), but there was no significant difference between them because p>0.05 at 95% confidence interval. Also high proportion of Staphylococcus was isolated from polled farm nasal swab 8/9 (88.9%), but this difference between sample type and the presence of Staphylococcus is not significant, because p-value (0.303) is greater than 0.05 at 0.05 level. Up on isolation and identification 35 (19.3%), 6 (3.3%), 24 (13.3%), 24 (13.3%) were S. aureus, S. intermedius, S. hyicus and Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CNS), respectively. From total positive samples, 55 isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility to different 15 antimicrobial discs. The comparative efficacies of antimicrobials used indicates Gentamycin, Kanamycin, Chloramphenicol, Ciprofloxacillin, and Sulphamethoxazole trimethoprim, were the most effective antibiotics where by 94.5%, 89.1%, 81.8%, 81.8%, and 81.8% respectively. Good hygienic practices should be followed both in dairy cattle farms and municipal abattoir including working personnel and equipment's used; and antimicrobials susceptibility test should be carried out at regular intervals to find out the development of resistance against the most commonly applied antibiotics.

Background: Safe food is central to social wellbeing. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) are a threat to food safety because they may harbor multiple enterotoxins and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. CNS bacteria are an emerging nosocomial pathogen in public health. CNS also cause bovine mastitis with a significant economic loss in the dairy industry and may introduce toxins to the food supply chain resulting in foodborne illnesses. However, information on CNS and their AMR status are scarce in food animal production and processing lines in Ethiopia. Methodology: This cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence and AMR patterns of CNS in dairy farms and abattoirs using samples (n ¼ 1001) from udder milk, beef carcass, personnel, and different abattoir and dairy equipment across five locations of central Oromia. The CNS isolates were identified via standard microbiological protocols and evaluated using disc diffusion test against 14 antimicrobials belonging to nine different broad classes. Uni-and-multivariable logistic regressions were used to analyze the association between potential risk factors (location, sample source, and sample type) and positivity to CNS. Results: The overall prevalence of CNS in the five different geographic locations studied was 9.6% (range: 6.7-12.4%) and varied between abattoirs (11.3%) and dairy farms (8.0%). CNS were prevalent on the carcass, milk, equipment, personnel hands, and nasal samples.

Brucellosis is a highly infectious bacterial disease of global significance, which affects humans as well as a wide variety of animals. A cross-sectional study was conducted in three selected districts of Afar region of Ethiopia to determine the seroprevalence of camel brucellosis. A total of 245 camels from selected districts were included in the study. All serum samples were tested and screened serologically using Rose Bengal plate test and confirmed using a complement fixation test. Associated risk factor analysis was also conducted using chi-square and logistic regression analysis. As a result, 30 (12.2%) were Rose Bengal plate test reactors in which 10 (4.1%) were confirmed to be positive using complement fixation test. The statistical analysis indicated that herd size (χ2=13.206; p=0.001 and OR=17.053; 95% CI=1.988-146.254), contact with other ruminants (χ2=13.524; p=0.00 and OR=12.774; 95% CI=1.560-104.625) and history of abortion (χ2=28.022; p=0.00 and OR=38.000; 95% CI=4.694-307.657) were statistically significant and the major risk factors for the presence and transmission of the disease between animals. But age, body condition score, physiological status, parity and geographical location were found statistically insignificant (P>0.05). Public awareness towards the diseases was interviewed with the structured questionnaire format and it was noted that most of the pastoralists had no knowledge about zoonotic disease transmission, consequences of consuming raw milk, and handling aborted animals without any protective material. In general, camel brucellosis is prevalent in this area of study and public awareness towards zoonotic importance is low. Therefore, fruitful and sustainable work is required from the government, animal health professionals, and other stakeholders in the prevention and control of the disease. Improved public awareness is inevitable to reduce the prevalence and spread of the camel brucellosis.