BackgroundEthiopian livestock production and productivity is still very low due to widespread of diseases. Among the diseases, foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an extremely contagious and acute viral disease that causes significant economic problems in the country. A cross sectional study design was conducted from September 2015 to May 2016 to isolate and characterize FMD virus from outbreak cases; determine the sero-prevalence of antibodies against FMD virus (FMDV), and assess potential risk factors associated with sero-prevalence of the disease in selected areas of central Ethiopia. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select the study animals. Isolated viruses were characterized by antigen ELISA (IZLER, Brescia, Italy) and by genetic analysis of the sequence of the viral protein 1 (VP1). Sero-prevalence was determined using an ELISA for antibodies against non-structural proteins of FMDV based on the 3ABC proteins (ID Screen® FMD NSP Competition, ID-VET, Grabels, France). Risk factors for sero-prevalence of antibodies against FMD virus was investigated using logistic regression analysis.ResultFrom outbreak investigation, 28.8% (n = 378) cattle showed signs and lesions suggestive of FMD and 34 samples were subjected to virus isolation. Twenty eight of these cultures exhibited cytopathic effect (CPE) and were serotyped as O, A and SAT 2 FMD viruses. One A and two SAT 2 isolates named A-ETH-19-2015, SAT 2-ETH-18-2015 and SAT 2-ETH-20-2015 were further characterized by phylogenetic analysis. The overall sero-prevalence of antibodies against non-structural proteins of FMDV was 24.2% (n = 574). Cattle herds with crossbreed cattle, with older cattle (> 2 years), and kept together with small ruminants had higher sero-prevalences of antibodies against FMDV (p < 0.05).ConclusionThis study showed that FMD was present in the study areas. Among the associated risk factors, breed, age and herd composition were significantly associated with presence of antibodies against FMD virus. Three different serotypes (A, O and SAT 2) were responsible for the outbreaks of the disease. Genetic analysis indicated that the isolated viruses clustered differently from previous outbreaks. Thus, further molecular analyses coupled with protection potential of the existing vaccines against the isolates should be performed.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12917-018-1429-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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A cross sectional study was conducted from November 2017 to March 2018, to assess major causes of chicken mortality and identifying parasite types in and around Hawassa city, Southern Ethiopia. One hundred sixty respondents were selected using multistage sampling technique. Questionnaire and laboratory data were analyzed using STATA version 14. Among the respondents 34% kept their chicken extensively while 52 and 14% used semi-intensive and intensive chicken production system respectively. From 73% of the respondents with separate chicken house, 70% practiced house cleaning. Out of the total respondents; 23, 72 and 5% practiced scavenging, scavenging with supplement and commercial feed for their chicken respectively and 55% of them with free access to water. Only 12% practiced vaccine for the health management of their chicken and 64% dispose dead chicken anywhere in the environment but 34 and 2% bury and burn dead chicken respectively. According to respondents; disease, mismanagement, predator, cannibalism and bad weather condition were reported as major causes of chicken mortality. Out of total 64 fecal samples, 50, 4.5 and 45.5% from local, cross and exotic breeds were found parasite positive respectively. About 63.6, 18.2 and 18.2% of the parasites were detected from chicken reared under extensive, semi-intensive and intensive production system respectively. Six parasite types were mainly identified from Hawassa city and its surrounding. Therefore, chicken improvement program in and around Hawassa city should work intensively to minimize the constraints of the sector and then to increase the production and productivity of chicken.

Background Mastitis is one of the challenges impairing the development of the dairy industry. Among mastitis-causing bacteria, S. aureus and E. coli represent the main causative agents that threaten the farmers not only due to the high incidence rate and zoonotic potential but also due to reports of multi-drug resistance. The study was conducted to assess the antimicrobial activity of selected medicinal plants against multidrug-resistant bacterial isolates from clinical bovine mastitis. Milk samples from mastitis cases were aseptically collected and S. aureus and E .coli isolates were identified, the antibiotic sensitivity test pattern of the isolate were confirmed. Four medicinal plants were collected; extracted and their in vitro effectiveness on multidrug-resistant S. aureus and E. coli isolates of bovine mastitis was validated compared to the conventionally used antimicrobial drugs. Results Crude extracts from the four plants were effective against both susceptible and resistant isolates. Extract of Crotona macrostachis at 100mg/mL MIC showed the highest mean zone of inhibition (20.2 ± 1.48) on E. coli while Prunes Africana at 50mg/mL MIC showed 12.9 ± 0.74. The highest mean zone of inhibition 13.8 ± 0.84 for Datura Stamonium at a MIC of 100mg/mL and lowest mean zone of inhibition 11.64 ± 0.86 for Crotona macrostachis at 100mg/mL MIC was observed on S. aureus. Moreover, compared to S. aureus, better efficacy was observed for all tested plant extracts against E. coli. Conclusion This study indicated that traditional medicinal plant preparations might be considered as an alternative option for the treatment of resistant isolates of clinical bovine mastitis.

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