A cross sectional study was conducted in and around Asella town from November 2007 to April 2008 on dairy cows to determine the prevalence of mastitis, impact of risk factors and isolate the dominant mastitis causing bacteria on total of 223 lactating cows, of which 92 were indigenous Arsi, and 131 Holstein Zebu cross by using clinical examination and California mastitis test (CMT). Of these 144 (65.6 %) were positive by clinical examination and CMT for clinical and sub clinical mastitis, with prevalence of 26.5 % and 38 %, respectively. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) on the prevalence of mastitis between cows kept under different hygiene of milking process. Similarly a significant difference on the prevalence of mastitis between the two breeds (P < 0.05) was also observed. From 144 CMT and clinically positive milk samples analyzed microbiologically, 133 were culturally positive for known mastitis pathogens and while 11 were negative. The dominant bacterial isolates in the study animals were Staphylococcus species (41.4 %), Streptococcus species (24.8 %), and other gram positive rods and gram negative enteric bacteria (33.8 %). Good hygiene in milking process, milking clinically infected cows at last, culling chronic mastitis carriers, treating clinically infected cows and dry period therapy could reduce the prevalence of contagious mastitis in the study area.

BackgroundRabies is an important but preventable cause of death in Ethiopia. We assessed the knowledge, attitudes and practices of animal bite victims attending an anti-rabies health center in Jimma Town, Ethiopia.Methodology/Principal FindingsBetween July 2012 and March 2013 a cross-sectional questionnaire was administered to 384 bite victims or their guardians in the case of minors (aged <15 years). Factors associated with knowledge, attitudes and practices were evaluated using generalized linear models. Almost all participants (99%) were aware that rabies was transmitted by the bite or lick of a rabid dog, however only 20.1% identified “germs” as the cause of disease. A majority of participants stated rabies could be prevented by avoiding dog bites (64.6%) and confining dogs (53.9%); fewer (41.7%) recognized vaccination of dogs/cats as an important preventive strategy. Regarding attitudes, most (91.1%) agreed that medical evaluation should be sought as soon as possible. However, most (75.0%) also believed that traditional healers could cure rabies. Rural residence (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.1, p = 0.015) and Protestant religion (OR = 2.4, p = 0.041) were independently associated with this belief. Among 186 participants who owned dogs, only 9 (4.8%) had ever vaccinated their dog and more than 90% of respondents indicated that their dog was free-roaming or cohabitated with the family. Only 7.0% of participants applied correct first aid following exposure, and the majority (47.7%) reported that the animal was killed by the community following the incident. Female sex and Muslim religion were independently associated with higher and lower practices scores, respectively, due largely to differences in animal management practices following the incident.Conclusions/SignificanceAlthough respondents demonstrated reasonably sound knowledge of rabies and its transmission, attitudes and practices were inconsistent with rabies prevention. Culturally- and gender-sensitive activities that promote proper first aid and healthcare seeking behavior as well as appropriate animal management, particularly in rural areas, are needed to prevent deaths associated with rabies in this setting.

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The study was made from November 2008 to April 2009 at the Ethiopia Somali region, Jijiga city. It was carried out with the objectives of providing base line data on the prevalence of C. bovis. A total of 400 carcasses of randomly selected bovine animals were used for the active abattoir survey. Of the 400 carcasses examined during the study period, 9 (2.25%) were infected with C. bovis. The distribution of organ infected with C. bovis were, tongue (55.5%) and heart (55.5%), shoulder muscle (33.3%), masseter muscle (22.2%), and liver (11.1%). Analysis of active abattoir survey revealed that there was no a significant difference (P>0.05) between sex and age of the animal. The viability test on all isolated cysts showed that 20% were viable. the tongue, shoulder muscle, masseter muscle and heart had the highest number of viable (60%), (60%), (50%) and (33.3%) cyst respectively. Meat inspection cannot totally prevent the consumer from being infected through row or under cocked meat/beef. Therefore, an effective control program has to include action intervening at various points of the life cycle of T. saginata. It requires an integrated approach among all stake holders: consumers, medical doctors and pharmacists, meat inspectors, veterinary practitioners and farmers.

A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2007 to April 2008 on 384 dairy cattle in Jimma Town and 1,102 adult cattle slaughtered at Jimma abattoir. The objective of the study was to generate preliminary epidemiological data on bovine TB both in dairy and beef cattle in Jimma and its area. Simple random sampling, single intradermal tuberculin (SIDT) and comparative intradermal tuberculin (CIDT) tests of dairy cattle and postmortem inspection of slaughter cattle were used. On the basis of CIDT test, herd and animal prevalence were found to be 48.6% (95% CI, 34.8-68.0) and 21.4% (95% CI, 17.3-25.5), respectively. In dairy herd, prevalence of bovine TB was significantly affected by herd size ( 2 = 7.1; P< 0.05) and age ( 2 =14.7; P<0.05). A prevalence of 5.4% (95% CI, 4.1-6.7) was recorded in cattle slaughtered at Jimma abattoir based on detailed postmortem examination. The occurrence of tuberculous lesions was variable in different tissues: 63.3% in the lungs and associated lymph nodes, 23.5% in the mesenteric lymph nodes and the remaining 13.2% in the lymph nodes of the head region. In conclusion, the result of the present study indicated the prevailing occurrence of bovine TB in the area and warrants for launching of control methods.

Ethiopia has enormous livestock resources from which rural households derive their livelihoods. A cross-sectional study based on participatory appraisal methods was conducted in Kembata Tambaro zone to assess major constraints to livestock production and major diseases of cattle and their treatment options. Four districts were selected purposively for this study, and 18 peasant associations were randomly sampled from the selected districts. Focus group discussion, semistructured interviews, simple ranking and scoring, proportional piling, pairwise ranking, and matrix scoring were the participatory epidemiological tools used in the study. Feed and free grazing land shortages and diseases were found to be the major constraints to cattle production in the area. Mastitis was ranked as the most serious disease of cattle. Modern veterinary treatments are used alongside traditional herbal remedies. Matrix scoring showed strong agreement between focus groups in identifying the major diseases using their indicators (clinical signs). Hence, it was concluded that indigenous knowledge complemented with participatory methods and approaches allow community and field researchers to jointly study specific livestock problems and help identify appropriate solutions.

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BackgroundBlackleg is one of the major bacterial infections causing tremendous economic losses to cattle herders in many parts of Ethiopia. Despite the huge burden, no comprehensive studies have quantified the impact or its distribution throughout the country. This study was aimed to estimate the epidemiological aspect of blackleg, financial costs and benefits of its control through annual vaccination on small holder cattle herders in Southern Ethiopia.MethodsAnnual financial cost due to blackleg was calculated as the sum of production losses due to mortality, morbidity, treatment and vaccination costs at herd level. Production loss due to the disease was estimated and compared between local zebu and crossbred cattle. Partial budget analysis was used to estimate financial benefit of control intervention through annual vaccination.ResultsAn overall cumulative incidence and mortality rate of blackleg in local zebu cattle population was 17.9 % (95 % CI 16.5–19.4) and 3.6 % (95 % CI 2.9–4.4 %) respectively. Cumulative incidence and mortality rate attributed to blackleg in crossbreds cattle was 19 % (95 % CI 16.9–21.6) and 3.9 % (95 % CI 2.9–5.3 %) respectively. There was no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05) in both variables between the two breeds. Financial costs in blackleg infected herds was estimated to be USD 9.8 (95 % CI 6.7–14.4) per head for local zebu and USD 16 (95 % CI 10–24.4) per head for crossbred cattle. The marginal rate of return that could be obtained from the control intervention was estimated to be 9 (900 %) and the net benefit per head was USD 0.4 for local zebu and USD 0.8 for crossbred cattle. Vaccination, therefore, reduces financial losses due to blackleg by 3.4 and 6.9 % per head in local zebu and crossbred cattle herds respectively.ConclusionsThe present study revealed considerable financial losses due to blackleg occurrence. The information obtained would be helpful to improve the farmers’ livelihood and may open new avenues of research for the eradication and control of the disease at local and national level.