A study was carried out from August 2017 to February 2018 on lactating dairy cows, one-humped dromedary camels, and goats to determine mastitis in the Bule Hora and Dugda Dawa districts of in Southern Ethiopia. Milk samples from 564 udder quarters and udder halves from 171 animals consisting of 60 dairy cows, 51 camels, and 60 goats were tested for mastitis. Sixty-four positive udder milk samples were cultured, and bacterial mastitis pathogens were isolated and identified. The antibiotic resistance of bacterial isolates from milk with mastitis was tested against nine antimicrobials commonly used in the study area. Cow- and quarter-level prevalence of mastitis in dairy cows, camels, and goats was 33.3%, 26.3%, and 25% and 17.6%, 14.5%, and 20%, respectively. In cattle, the prevalence was significantly higher in Dugda Dawa than in Bule Hora. Major bacterial isolates were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species (39.1%), S. aureus (17.2%), S. hyicus (14.1%), and S. intermedius and Escherichia coli (9.4% each). In camels, udder abnormality and mastitis were significantly higher in late lactation than in early lactation. Mastitis tends to increase with parity in camels. E. coli isolates were highly resistant to spectinomycin, vancomycin, and doxycycline, whereas most S. aureus isolates were multidrug-resistant. Most of the rural and periurban communities in this area consume raw milk, which indicates a high risk of infection with multidrug-resistant bacteria. We recommend a community-focused training program to improve community awareness of the need to boil milk and the risk of raw milk consumption.

Dromedary camels produce more milk for a longer period of time than any other milk animal held under the same harsh conditions. Produced milk is a primary source of some pastoralists' food, nutrition and income security all year round. However, there are limited research efforts on exploiting camel milk potential and its promotion for consumption and marketing. Thus, a cross-sectional survey was conducted on 100 camel herders; nine traders and three cooperatives during March to April 2017 in Afar region of Ethiopia. Besides, discussions were held with district leaders, end consumers and local elders. Collected data were analysed using descriptive statistical tools, figures and diagrams. The survey result revealed that 56.6% camel herds were lactating. Milking was done by men twice (67%) and three times (33%) per day with an average of 4.2 L per camel. A total of 82% of the camel herders were marketers, and women were dominant. Camel herders sold an average of 14.3 L milk per day at an average price of USD 0.95 per litre, whereas middlemen sold an average of 35.8 L at USD 1.22 per litre. The milk trade was done at herders' farm gate (18.3%), main roadsides (58.5%) and nearest towns (23.2%) using small plastic pots (68.3%) and plastic jerrycans (31.7%). Amongst the three marketing channels, 69.9% of the milk was directly sold to end consumers and fetched a higher price than other marketing channels, but the routes are limited to local markets. The camel herders perceived that they satisfied with milk for its nutritional, medicinal, social and economic values. Therefore, interventions need to focus on exploiting opportunities, addressing challenges/constraints in camel milk production and its marketing chain efficiency and effectiveness.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to isolate and identify bacterial species from the respiratory tract of apparently healthy and pneumonic camels in Asayita and Dubti woredas in the Afar Region, Ethiopia. From a total of 74 lung tissue and 74 tracheal swab samples Staphylococcus aureus, 16.3%, Streptococcus equi subsp. equi, 13.0%, and Pasteurella multocida, 10.9%, were dominant isolates from pneumonic lungs; Escherichia coli, 12.7%, Proteus species, 10.9%, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, 9.1%, were the majority in the normal lungs. The majority of the isolates colonized both anatomical sites investigated. There was a statistically significant association between the health status of the camels as well as the anatomical site studied with the isolation rates of the major respiratory pathogens (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the isolates were susceptible to norfloxacin, streptomycin, and gentamicin but resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline on in vitro test. Further studies on the pathogenicity of the major isolates are recommended.

21%). From the total number of 119 C. bovis collected from the infected 20 cattle during the study period, 73 (61.3%) were found to be alive while the rest 46 (38.7%) were degenerative cysts. Cysticercosis prevalence showed that there was no statistically difference among age groups and body condition score with the occurrence of C. bovis (p>0.05). Of the total 69 interviewed respondents, 30.4% (21/69) had contracted Taenia saginata infection. The prevalence of taeniosis showed significant difference (p<0.05) with age groups, habit of raw meat consumption, toilet availability, sex and religion. However, there was no significance difference between marital status, educational level, knowledge of taeniasis and occupational risks (p>0.05). The findings of this study indicated the importance of bovine cysticercosis and taeniosis in the study area. Therefore, attention should be given to the public awareness and routine meat inspection to be safe to public health and promote meat industry in the country

To investigate intestinal bacterial pathogens and characterization of Escherichia coli isolates besides assessing management as well as herd and calf-level risk factors associated with camel calf diarrhea, a cross-sectional study was conducted in selected districts of Afar region, Ethiopia. A total of 384 fecal swabs were collected from diarrheic, convalescent and apparently healthy camel calves aged 12 months or younger and processed using standard conventional and molecular assays. The risk factors were assessed during sample collection using questionnaire survey and observational assessment. Out of the 384 camel calves examined, 59.38% were found harboring one or more bacteria at varying levels. Salmonella (31.6%), E. coli (28.2%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (22.2%) were the predominant bacterial species isolated from the gastro intestinal tract (GIT) of apparently healthy calves. On the other hand, E. coli (58.5%), Salmonella (17.1%) and Enterococcus (14.6%) were the most frequently encountered bacterial species in the diarrheic calves. Analysis of the questionnaire data revealed inconsistency in colostrum feeding, poor calf barn sanitation and health management. Age and colostrum feeding were the major risk factors associated with bacterial isolation and occurrence of calf diarrhea. Accordingly, young calves (0-3 months old) that didn't consume colostrum or received small amount of colostrum were at a significantly high risk of being affected with diarrhea (P<0.05). This study supports the assertion of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica (gp3B) and Enterococcus feculis as being the most important pathogens involved in camel calf diarrhea and have important public health implication. Majority strains of the bacterial pathogens were found susceptible to norfloxacin, amoxicillin and gentamicin but resistant to ampicillin and tetracycline in vitro.