Abstract:The study which employed both questionnaire and observational survey was conducted in urban and per urban area of Hossana with the objectives of determining the prevalence of major reproductive health problems of dairy cattle and the possible risk factors in the selected dairy farms from November 2013 to April 2014. A total of 390 dairy cattle (349 cross and 41 local breed) which were kept under different management system (256 intensively, 60 semi intensively and 74 were extensive) were included, out of which 43.07 % (n=168) were found to be affected either with one or more of reproductive problems. Repeat breeder, anoestrus, Retained Fetal membrane (RFM), and dystocia were found to be the major reproductive health problems containing 13.08%, 12.06%, 7.18% and 5.9% prevalence rate respectively and other reproductive health problems observed with lower prevalence include vaginal prolapsed, abortion, mixed and uterine prolapsed having 3.44%, 2.56%, 1.03%, and 0.76% respectively in the study farms of the area. The overall prevalence of reproductive problems showed significant difference (p<0.05) with respect to body condition and parity of dairy cattle where major reproductive health problems were observed more frequently in poor body conditioned and pluriparus cows. Whereas breed and management system were not found to have a significant influence (p>0.05) on the occurrence of reproductive problems in the area. Therefore, it is recommended that awareness creation to farm owners, attendants and improved management such as, proper feeding, accurate heat detection, considering the size of sire and dam while using AI, and health management should be improved to minimize the occurrence of these problems and associated economic losses in the dairy farms of the area.

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are globally recognized as a major cause of bacterial foodborne gastroenteritis. A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2015 to May 2016 in Mekelle city to isolate, identify, and estimate the prevalence of C. jejuni and C. coli in raw meat samples and to determine their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. A total of 384 raw meat samples were randomly collected from bovine (n = 210), goat (n = 108), and chicken (n = 66), and isolation and identification of Campylobacter spp. were performed using standard bacteriological techniques and PCR. Antibiotic susceptibility test was performed using disc diffusion method. Of the total 384 raw meat samples, 64 (16.67%) were found positive for Campylobacter spp. The highest prevalence of Campylobacter spp. was found in chicken meat (43.93%) followed by bovine meat (11.90%) and goat meat (9.25%). The most prevalent Campylobacter spp. isolated from meat samples was C. jejuni (81.25%). The overall prevalence of Campylobacter in restaurants, butcher shops, and abattoir was 43.93%, 18.30%, and 9.30%, respectively. 96.8%, 81.25%, 75%, and 71% of the Campylobacter spp. isolates were sensitive to norfloxacin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, and sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim, respectively. However, 96.9%, 85.9%, and 50% of the isolates were resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin, and streptomycin, respectively. Strains that developed multi-drug resistant were 68.7%. The result of this study revealed the occurrence of Campylobacter in bovine, goat, and chicken meats. Hence, there is a chance of acquiring infection via consumption of raw or undercooked meat. Thus, implementation of hygienic practices from a slaughterhouse to the retailers, proper handling and cooking of foods of meat are very important in preventing Campylobacter infection.

Antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates pose a severe challenge to both veterinary and health professions and dairy cattle producers. Cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2014 to May 2015 to isolate and identify S. aureus from mastitic cows’ milk and estimate the occurrence of MRSA in the dairy farms of Shire. Physical examination and California mastitis test were performed on a total of 220 dairy cows. Bacteriological isolation and identification and antibiogram testing were performed. Furthermore, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was done for the detection of mec A and fem A genes. Out of the 220 dairy cows, 64 (29.09%) were positive for bovine mastitis, and of these, 32.81% were coagulase-positive S. aureus (CoPS). Antibiogram test results showed 100% of the isolates were resistant to penicillin G, nalidixic acid, and ampicillin, and 33.33% of the CoPS showed resistance to oxacillin (phenotypically MRSA positive). But 38.09% of the CoPS were found to be resistant and susceptible to vancomycin. PCR amplification of the seven phenotypically MRSA isolates revealed that 42.9% and 71.4% of them were found to carry fem A and mec A genes, respectively. The current study revealed the existence of alarming level of CoPS and development of multidrug resistance.

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2011 to April 2012 on a total of 384 pigs from two privately owned intensive farms in Bishoftu, Ethiopia. The objectives of the study were to identify and determine the prevalence of common parasites of pigs. For the determination of gastrointestinal (GIT) parasites, faecal samples were collected from the study animals and subjected to standard parasitological examination techniques. Physical examination was conducted for the presence of skin parasitic lesions and skin scrapings were collected to determine prevalence of ectoparasites. The overall prevalence of GIT parasites in the pigs was 25% (96/384). Examination of faecal samples revealed the ova or oocysts of four different gastrointestinal parasites, namely Coccidia (12%), Strongyles (5.2%), Ascaris suum (4.9%) and Trichuris suis (2.9%). Mixed infection by at least two parasite species was observed in 3.65% (14/384) of the pigs. The only ectoparasite species identified was Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis, with a prevalence of 2.6%. This study indicates that pig parasites are a major problem in the study area, hence implementation of strategic control measures and appropriate hygienic management systems are recommended to reduce the prevalence of parasites.

A cross-sectional study was undertakento estimate the prevalence of internal and external parasites of camels slaughtered at Addis Ababa abattoir, Ethiopia. A total of 384 of camels originating from Borena and Metehara areas were examined during the study period and all (100%) of them were found to harbor at least two parasite species. In this study,the prevalence of tick, gastrointestinal parasites, Cephalopinatitillator,Hydatid cyst, and Sarcoptesscabiei var. cameliwere 100, 95.6, 68.2, 65 and 35.4%, respectively. The gastrointestinal parasite's ova/oocyte identified includeStrongylus species, Trichurisspecies, Strongyloidesspecies and coccidiaat prevalence of 78.1, 47.1, 44.5 and 25.3%, respectively. Of the total 1347 pooled samples of tick collected from 40 randomly selected camels.Rhipicephaluspulchelis, Rhipicephalusevertsievertsi, Hyalomma dromedary, Amblyommagemma,Amblyommavariegatum and Boophilusdecolaratuswere identified at a proportion of 53.90, 21.01, 13.66, 7.5, 3.19 and 0.74%, respectively. The average tick burden from half body region of camels was 33.7 ± 6.24 (range 26 to 53).In general, this study indicates that parasites are still the major problems hindering the productivity and health of camels, hence implementation of strategic control measures and further studies are recommended to reduce the effect of parasites on camel health and productivity.