BackgroundThe camel is a multipurpose animal with a huge productive potential. Camel milk is a key food in arid and semi-arid areas of the African and Asian countries. The quality of milk is influenced by different bacteria present in milk. This study was conducted to evaluate total bacterial content in raw camel milk along the market chain in Fafen zone, Ethiopian Somali Regional State.MethodsOne hundred twenty-six raw camel milk samples were collected from Gursum (47.1 %) and Babile (52.9 %) districts. The three sampling levels included were udder (14.7 %), milking bucket (29.4 %) and market (55.9 %). Milk samples were analyzed for total bacterial counts (TBC) and coliform counts (CC). Furthermore, major pathogens were isolated and identified.Result108 (85.7 %) of raw camel milk samples demonstrated bacterial contamination. The overall mean TBC and CC of contaminated raw camel milk samples was 4.75 ± 0.17 and 4.03 ± 0.26 log CFU/ml, respectively. TBC increased from udder to market level and was higher in Gursum compared to Babile district (P < 0.05). Around 38.9 % of TBCs and 88.2 % CCs in contaminated raw camel milk samples were in the range considered unsafe for human utility. Staphylococcus spp. (89.8 %), Streptococcus spp. (53.7 %), E. coli (31.5 %), Salmonella spp. (17.6 %), Klebsiella spp. (5.6 %) and Enterobacter spp. (5.6 %) were the major bacterial microorganisms isolated.ConclusionThe majority of the bacterial isolates in this study showed high incidence in market as compared to production level. These results indicate a lack of compliance with good production practices and hygiene at milking, transportation and market of raw camel milk.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate magnitude of small ruminant ectoparasite infestation in Sodo Zuria district from November, 2013 to March, 2014. Out of the total 758 small ruminants, 51.5% sheep and 48.9 % goats were found infected with ectoprasite infestation (p=0.471). Standard identification of 383 ectoprasite specimens demonstrated ticks (34.6%), lice (7.1%), fleas (6.1%) and mange mites (2.8%). Tick and flea infestation were predominant in sheep (p<0.01) whereas mange mite infestations was more common in goats (p < 0.01). The tick species observed, in order of importance, were Ripicephalus evertsi eversti, Amblyoma variegatum, Boophilus decoloratus, Amblyoma coherences and Ripicephalus pulchellus (exclusive to sheep). The flea species observed were Ctenocephalides felis and Ctenocephalides canis. Regarding mange mites, Sarcoptus scabie was more frequent and affected both sheep and goats whereas Demodex caprea was found only in goats. Among lice species identified, Linognatus ovilluis and Damalina ovis were higher in sheep whereas Linognatus stenopsis was more common in goats (p<0.05). Generally, female animals were affected by ectoparasites more frequently (56 %) than males (44.4%) (p=0.001). Small ruminants older than one year (53.8%) were affected more frequently than younger animals (45.8%) (p=0.029). Ectoparasite infestation was more frequent in animals with poor body condition (59%) than those having medium (41.9%) and good (43.6%) body condition (p=0.000). Small ruminant flocks in Sodo Zuria district were widely affected by ectoparasite infestation which leads to substantial morbidity. Effort to raise awareness of farm households and improve control services is recommended.

BackgroundPeste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an economically important disease of small ruminants such as sheep and goats. The disease is characterized by severe pyrexia, oculo-nasal discharge, pneumonia, necrosis and ulceration of the mucous membrane and inflammation of the gastro-intestinal tract leading to severe diarrhea. A SYBR Green I based real time RT-PCR targeting the N gene of PPRV has not been established for PPRV detection. Thus, the objective of present study was to develop highly sensitive N gene target SYBR Green I real time RT-PCR for specific detection and quantification of PPRV in clinical samples. A set of primers was designed to detect the nucleocapsid (N) gene of PPRV.ResultsThe assay exhibited high specificity as all the viruses which have clinical and structural similarities to PPRV including Canine distemper virus (CDV), Measles virus (MV), Bluetongue virus (BTV) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) failed to show an amplification signal. The lower detection limit of the assay was 5.11 copies/μl (Ct value of 33.67 ± 0.5) and 0.001 TCID50/ml (Ct value of 34.7 ± 0.5) based on plasmid copy number and tissue culture infectivity titre. The assay was 3-log more sensitive than the conventional RT-PCR. The coefficient of variation (CV) values for intra- and inter-assay variability were low, ranging from 0.32% - 2.31%, and 0.71% - 5.32%, respectively. To evaluate the performance of the newly developed assay, a total of 36 clinical samples suspected of PPR were screened for the presence of PPRV in parallel with conventional RT-PCR. The real time RT-PCR assay detected PPRV in 30 (83.3%) of clinical samples compared to 16 (44.4%) by conventional RT-PCR.ConclusionsThe two-step SYBR Green I based real time RT-PCR assay reported here is highly sensitive, specific, reproducible and rapid for detection and quantification of PPRV nucleic acids.

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