A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2009 to August 2010 with the objective of determining calf morbidity and mortality rates, to investigate the potential risk factors for mortality and morbidity and to determine the type and prevalence of major diseases of crossbred calves in Bahir Dar Zuria and Gozamen districts of Amhara Region. A total of 148 respondents engaged in small holder crossbred dairying were interviewed using a structured questionnaire survey about their calf management practices and major calf health problems encountered. About 396 crossbred calves were considered for this study. The overall magnitude of morbidity and mortality rates of crossbred calves were 58.4% and 30.7%, respectively. Higher mortality of crossbred calves was found in Gozamen district (39.6 %) than in Bahir Dar Zuria district (29.9 %). The major calf diseases found were diarrhea (21.4%), pneumonia (18.6%), septicemic conditions (12.4%) and navel ill (8.1%) and miscellaneous cases (39.5%). Risk factors such as study location, blood level, age, colostrum feeding and time of colostrum feeding were found to have statistically significant (p < 0.05) effects on crossbred calf mortality rate in both districts. Exotic genetic influence, age, colostrum feeding and time of colostrum feeding were also the major risk factors found statistically significant (p < 0.05) to affect calf morbidity. In conclusion, the magnitude of calf morbidity and mortality rates found in this study were much higher than economically tolerable level and could affect the productivity of the dairy farms through mainly decreasing the availability of replacement stock. It is therefore, suggested that implementation of improved calf management practices and optimization of more adaptable blood level of crossbred cattle in the study areas would significantly reduce calf mortality and morbidity.

Background: A longitudinal prospective study was conducted from October 2017 to April 2018 on calf diarrhea and coccidiosis in dairy farms in Bahir Dar, North West Ethiopia with the objectives of determining the incidence of calf diarrhea and calf coccidiosis from diarrheic calves, assessing the major risk factors associated with calf diarrhea and coccidiosis and identifying the existing Eimeria species. A total of 237 calves, 86 calves from 52 smallholder dairy farms and 151 calves from 8 large dairy farms, were used for this study. Fresh fecal samples were collected from 86 diarrheic calves for identification of Eimeria species. Results: Overall incidences of calf diarrhea and coccidiosis found in this study were 33.5 and 20.1%, respectively. In total, 19 potential risk factors were investigated for their association with calf diarrhea and coccidiosis from diarrheic calves using Cox regression. Age of calf (HR = 2.057, P = .002), body condition (HR = 1.802, P < .001), house condition (HR = 2.072, P = .004) and age at first colostrum feeding time (HR = 2.107, P = .002) were found significantly (P < 0.05) associated with the risk of diarrhea by multivariate Cox regression. Among the risk factors tested, age (HR = 13.36, P < .001) and sex of calves (HR = 3.500, P = .020) were found significantly (P < 0.05) associated with coccidiosis by multivariate Cox regression. A total of nine Eimeria species were identified. E. bovis (28.6%), E. zuernii (19.0%) and E. auburnensis (14.3%) were the most common Eimeria species encountered. Conclusion: The incidence of calf diarrhea and coccidiosis was high in the dairy herds in North West Ethiopia. Therefore, sound dairy calf management practices are needed to mitigate risk factors for calf diarrhea and coccidiosis with a view to reducing the incidence of calf diarrhea and coccidiosis in Ethiopian dairy farms.

A cross sectional study was carried out from October 2008 to April 2009 to determine the sero-prevalence of brucellosis in small ruminants in and around Bahir Dar, northwest Ethiopia. The sampling method used was purposive sampling technique for districts and simple random for the study animals. A total of 500 serum samples (270 from sheep and 230 from goats) were collected from extensive management system with no history of vaccination. All serum samples were initially screened by Rose-Bengal-Plate Test (RBPT) and positive reactors to RBPT (n=6) were further tested by complement fixation test (CFT) for confirmation. Accordingly, the overall prevalence of brucellosis in small ruminants was 0.4 % (2/500). Rose Bengal Plate Test detected 6 (1.2%) of the samples as seropositive. Up on further testing by CFT only 2 (0.4%) were positive which were adult goats. The seroprevalence of brucellosis was found higher in females (0.4%) than males (0%). Although seropositive animals are low in number, it was found out that animals more than 1 year of age were more affected than others. The result of the present study revealed that the seroprevalence of small ruminant brucellosis in the study area was very low. However, the existence of the disease in the study area has possible risk of spread in the future. Accordingly, elimination of positive seroreactors has been recommended to control the spread of brucellosis in these species of animals.

A cross sectional study aimed at determining the prevalence and type of common Fasciola species in cattle was conducted in and around Bahir Dar from November 2008-March 2009. The study was based on post-mortem inspection of livers of slaughtered animals at Bahir Dar municipality abattoir and coprological examination using sedimentation technique on fecal samples collected from animals of Bahir Dar and surrounding areas. Out of 413 livers inspected, 165 (39.95%) were positive for Fasciola species. F. hepatica was found to be the most prevalent species in cattle of the study area (89.70%). About 3.63% were positive for F. gigantica and 6.67% were harboring mixed infections. Likewise, out of 384 fecal samples examined 141 (36.72) were positive for the presence of Fasciola eggs. Risk factors such as locality, body condition and sex didn't show any effect on the prevalence of infections (P>0.05). However, breed and age group revealed significant disparity (P<0.05) as greater magnitude of infections were detected in exotic breed and young age group, respectively. In view of the current result, fasciolosis could be considered as a major problem in Bahir Dar and surrounding areas as the ecological factors and management conditions are suitable both for the snail intermediate host and the parasite to be maintained. Strategic treatments need to be implemented at appropriate timing with the aim of reducing worm burden from infected animals and preclude pasture contamination. Integrated control approaches involving livestock owners has to be implemented in reducing the population and activity of snail intermediate hosts to enable maximization of long-term returns from such endemic areas.

Epizootic lymphangitis (EL) is one of the most important diseases of equines in Ethiopia, causing a significant economic loss in cart-horse and mule producers. A cross-sectional study was carried out between April and June 2017 in Bahir Dar city to estimate the prevalence of epizootic lymphangitis (EL) and its associated risk factors. Study locations and cart mule owners were selected purposively based on the availability of cart mules. Whereas cart mules were sampled using a simple random sampling technique by a lottery system. A total of 384 cart mules were considered for this study. Both clinical and microbiological examinations were employed to identify EL in-cart mules. Among 384 sampled cart mules, which were subjected to clinical and microbiological examination, 88 (22.9%, 95% CI= [18.7, 22.1]) were positive for EL. Cutaneous form 69 (78.4%, 95% CI= [69.8, 87.0]) was the commonest form of the disease followed by mixed infection 10 (11.4%, 95%CI= [4.7,17.9]), ocular 6 (6.8%, 95% CI= [1.5,12.1]) and pulmonary 3 (3.4%, 95% CI= [0.4, 7.2]). Most EL lesions were observed on forelimbs 24 (27.3%, 95% CI= [17.9, 36.5]), followed by chest and forelimb 18 (20.5%, 95% CI= [12.0, 28.9]), hind limbs 16 (18.2%, 95% CI=[10.1, 26.2]), chest 11 (12.5%, 95% CI= [5.6, 19.4]), and head and forelimbs 8 (9%, 95% CI= [3.1,15.1]). The association between location, sex, and body condition score with the occurrence of EL was examined using the chi-square test. However, none of the examined risk factors considered were significantly associated with EL (p>0.05). In conclusion, a higher prevalence of EL was recorded in Bahir Dar city which could substantially affect the health, productivity, and performance of cart mules. Further extensive mycological and epidemiological research on EL is suggested to develop evidence-based EL control and prevention measures in cart mules.

An outbreak of contagious ecthyma (CE) was investigated in June, 2012 with morbidity rate of 22% in Adet Sheep Research Sub-Center, Ethiopia. The results of this investigation indicated that the outbreak was caused by infection with CE virus. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for rapid diagnosis was applied to five scab samples obtained from sheep suspected for CE. To confirm whether the causative agent was present in skin scrapings, PCR of the complete B2L gene to diagnose CE was used in this study. The expected PCR fragments, approximately 1206 bp in length were obtained from DNA which had been extracted from tissue scrapings. All five skin scab samples were confirmed positive to CE by PCR. In conclusion, detailed phylogenetic analysis of CE virus is suggested in order to know the genetic origin of the virus strain as well as for the future choice for immunoprophylaxis.

Background Sheep lice, caused by Bovicola ovis are very common in Ethiopia. It can result decreased production and reproduction, downgrading and rejection of skins in tannery industries. A cross-sectional and experimental study were conducted in Sayint District, South Wollo, Ethiopia which aims to determine the prevalence of sheep lice with the associated risk factors, identify the major sheep lice species and evaluate the efficacy of 60% Diazinon and 1% Ivermectin against Bovicola ovis. Study kebeles and animals were selected using purposive and multistage sampling techniques. Accordingly, a total of 232 sheep were sampled to estimate the prevalence of sheep lice. Fifteen sheep for in-vivo and 80 Bovicola ovis lice for in-vitro test were used for drug efficacy trial, by using completely randomized design. Results The overall prevalence of sheep lice in this study was 48%. Hair length (OR = 2, P = 0.00), body condition (OR = 1.9, P = 0.02), agro ecology (OR = 1.19, P = 0.00) and season (OR = 2, P = 0.01) were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with sheep lice infestation. The dominant sheep lice species in the study area were Bovicola ovis with prevalence of 83% and mixed infestation of 17% Bovicola ovis with Linognatus ovillus. In this study, the efficacy of 60% Diazinon and 1% Ivermectin against Bovicola ovis were 97% and 81%, respectively. Conclusion The overall prevalence of sheep lice infestation in the present study area was higher, in which Bovicola ovis was predominant and resistant against 1% Ivermectin. Therefore, tailor made intervention is required with a view to reducing the prevalence of sheep lice infestation and addressing drug resistance in the study area.

This study was carried out from October 2013 to November 2014 in selected dairy farms of Bahir Dar milk-shade to estimate the prevalence and species composition of major internal and external parasites and to examine the associated risk factors in dairy calves. A total of 168 and 77 dairy calves less than 9 month old were used to study the prevalence of calf internal and external parasites, respectively. Type of internal and external parasites, degree of nematode infection (EPG) and packed cell volume (PCV) were determined by using standard parasitological and hematological procedures. The overall prevalence of internal and external parasites was 65.5% and 45%, respectively. The prevalence of Coccidia, Strongyle spp, Ascaris, Monezia, Paramphistomum, Trichuris, Schistosoma and Fasciola spp. was 25.6%, 20.8%, 17.1%, 14.3%, 6.0%, 3.0%, 1.8% and 0.6%, respectively. A significant difference (p<0.05) was observed in strongyle and coccidia infection across season and dairy production system. Major external parasites of calves were ticks (23.4%), flea (16.9%) and lice (7.8%). Boophilus decoloratus (17.1%), Amblyoma varigatum (2.6%) and Rhipicephalus evertsi-evertsi, (2.6%) were the prevailed tick species found in the study area. The prevalence of B. decoloratus was significantly (p<0.05) higher in peri-urban (26.8%) than urban (5.6%) dairy. Ctenocephalidae flea (18.4%) and two species of lice, L. vitulli (6.6%) and D. bovis (1.3%) were also recovered from dairy calves. In conclusion, the overall prevalence of calf internal and external parasites reported in the present study area was considerably high. This could affect the health and growth performance of dairy calves in the study ares. Therefore, as poorly managed calves are susceptible to most endo and ectoparasites, strategic deworming and acaricide application with subsequent implementation of improved calf management practices is warranted.