Bovine brucellosis is among the top five diseases primarily threatening both public health and livestock economy. Available data are limited to central and highland areas of the country leaving documented literature on the disease in cattle to be found hardly in pastoral and agropastoral regions of the country. As a result, the magnitude and extent of the disease remained to be investigated. A cross-sectional study design was conducted on local Afar cattle aged six months and above from February 2017 to January 2019 in selected districts of Afar region. Technically, study districts and kebeles were selected purposively whereas simple random sampling technique was applied to select cattle owners and individual animals for sample collection. An average of 8 ml whole blood was drawn of jugular vein into plain vacutainer tube using sterile needle. Using Thrusfield formula, a total of 420 blood samples were collected. The sera were tested by RBPT and CFT tests for detection of Brucella antibodies. Data were analyzed using Stata v14.0. Of the 420 sera tested by RBPT, 50 were positive for Brucella antibodies providing an overall animal level prevalence of 11.9% and those RBPT positive sera were further retested by specific and sensitive confirmatory CFT test and 24 of the retested samples had come positive for the disease providing an overall individual animal seroprevalence of 5.7% over the three districts. Of the 3 associated factors (sex, age, and district) considered, only sex had significantly associated ( P < 0.05 : 0.036 ) with the disease. To estimate the strength of sex impact, odds ratio was generated using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses with 95% CI and P < 0.05 providing OR of 2.484 (1.061–5.815) and 2.514 (1.041–6.07), respectively. Hence, the computations revealed that male cattle were 2.484 and 2.514 times more likely at higher risk for the disease as compared to their female counterparts.

Background A cross‐sectional study was conducted from November 2018 to May 2019 to estimate seroprevalence of foot and mouth disease virus for cattle and assess associated risk factors in selected districts of afar region. Simple random sampling technique was employed to select the study areas. A total of 384 bovine sera were collected from 72 herds and seroprevalence of the disease was determined using 3ABC‐ELISA technique. Data were recorded and coded using Microsoft Excel spread sheet and analysed using STATA. Potential risk factors of the disease were also assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results Out of 384 sera tested at National Veterinary Institute, the overall seroprevalence of foot and mouth disease (FMD) virus was 19.8% (n = 76; 95% CI = 15.8‐23.79) at animal level and 56.94% at herd level. The herd level seroprevalence was higher in animals tested from Dubti (85%, n = 17) than Asayita (48.13%, n = 13) and Chifra (44%, n = 11). Among the associated risk factors, age, herd size, district and contact with wild life were statistically associated with foot and mouth disease serostatus (p < 0.05). Medium and large herd size animals were 2.49 (95% CI: 1.33‐6.63) and 6.05 (95% CI: 2.54‐14.43) times more likely to develop the disease as compared to animals from small herd size, respectively. Conclusions The current study finding revealed that FMD was more prevalent and economically significant disease in the study districts. Hence, further studies ought to be conducted to estimate the region wise serostatus magnitude of the disease, to assess its economic impact and to identify the circulating serotypes and strains in the areas.

Background Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is one of Ethiopia’s most economically significant transboundary livestock illnesses. The disease has a significant economic impact on pastoral household livestock owners, who rely significantly on their cattle as a source of income. Methods A cross-sectional study was undertaken in selected districts of Afar region from November 2018 to May 2019 primarily intended to estimate the prevalence of lumpy skin disease serologically in local Afar cattle as well as identify potential associated factors. A multistage sampling method was employed to select study districts, peasant association, herd size and study units. A total of 384 sera were processed using serum neutralization test (SNT) method to detect antibodies against lumpy skin disease virus. Relevant data were refined and further analyzed using stata version 14. Results In the study districts, the overall animal level seroprevalence was found to be 7.6% (N = 29/384; 95% confidence interval: 4.90–10.20) and the overall herd level prevalence was found to be 20.8% (n = 15/72; 95% confidence interval: 11.42–30.18). Only district was shown to be statistically significant (P = 0.004) in terms of LSD occurrence among the relevant factors studied. Cattle in Chifra district were 20.18 times more likely to contract LSD infection than cattle in Dubti district, when Asayita district was used as the reference group. Conclusion The present study finding confirmed the presence of the disease in the study districts of afar region and coordinated intervention set to be in place.

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A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and identification of GIT parasites of sheep and goats in two selected districts of Afar from December 2014 to February 2016. Totally 590 faecal samples were collected from small ruminants (332 goat and 258 sheep) managed in pastoral and agro-pastoral production. Out of the total examined small ruminant 87.8% (518) were found to harbor one or more genera of helminth parasites. The result of the study revealed that 92.2% (306) of the goats and 82.2% (212) of the sheep were found positive for GIT parasites. Helminth parasites identified in small ruminant of the study area were Strongyles, Fasciola, Strongyloides, Paramphistomum, Trichuris, Ascaris and Monezia. The risk of infection with GIT helminth parasites in goats were 4.009 times higher than sheep (OR=4.009, p=0.011). Age and sex related difference was not observed in the prevalence of helminth parasites in sheep and goats. Significantly (OR=0.119, p=0.000) higher prevalence of overall helminth parasites in poor body condition sheep and goats than good body condition was observed. Likewise significant variation in overall parasite prevalence was observed between the study districts (OR=0.169, p=0.000). In this study, species of the animals, origin, and body condition score are important risk factors associated with gastrointestinal parasites in the study area. In the study area nutrition is generally poor, low productivity in small ruminants is likely to be aggravated by a high prevalence of polyparasitism.