A participatory epidemiological investigation of causes of cattle abortion in Jimma zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

A participatory epidemiological study was conducted with cattle keepers in Jimma zone, Ethiopia, between October 2018 and October 2019 to identify the causes of abortion in cattle. Data collection involved 20 group discussions (each comprising 8–12 people) in 10 peasant associations. Methods used in group discussions included semi-structured interviews, pairwise ranking, matrix scoring, proportional piling, and seasonal calendar. The result of pairwise ranking identified brucellosis, leptospirosis, listeriosis, trypanosomosis, and Foot and mouth disease (FMD) in decreasing order as the most important causes of abortion in cattle. Mechanical or physical agents were also identified as less important non-infectious causes of cattle abortion in study areas. A very strong agreement (W = 0.880; P < 0.001) was observed among informant groups in pairwise ranking as to the most important cause of cattle abortion in study areas. Proportional piling showed that brucellosis was responsible for the highest proportion of abortions (39.9%) followed by leptospirosis (22.5%) and listeriosis (16.3%). A lesser proportion of abortion was attributed to trypanosomosis and FMD which comprise 11.6% and 9.7%, respectively. Matrix scoring showed strong agreement (W = 0.572 to 0.898; p < 0.001) concerning causes of abortion and its clinical signs between informant groups. According to the discussants, brucellosis and FMD tend to occur more frequently in the winter and spring seasons whereas listeriosis and trypanosomosis occurred frequently in the summer and autumn seasons, respectively. Strong agreement was observed among informant groups about the seasonal pattern of occurrence causes of abortion (W = 0.525–0.794; P < 0.001). Participants used medicinal plants and other traditional practices to manage cattle abortion in their areas. Farmers' knowledge should be incorporated to investigate health problems of unknown causes, designing, and implementing the intervention program in the areas.

Patterns of mortality in domesticated ruminants in Ethiopia

“…The overall impression of the diagnostic laboratory data supplied was that it lacked detail and did not appear comprehensive, rather providing a reflection of the general causes of mortality and reproduction losses. A recent study reported that a lack of diagnostic laboratory resources, combined with the presence of most potential infectious and non-infectious causes of abortion made diagnosis particularly challenging in Ethiopia ( 31 ).…”

“…Other likely sources of natural variation in the datasets include different conditions for different years, such as droughts and epidemics ( 32 , 33 ). That there was evidence of spatiotemporal variation of risk factors and causes of mortality is not surprising, as seasonal and environmental variation affects grazing availability and ensuing movement and mixing of animals ( 31 , 34 , 35 ) which can then affect disease transmission. A recent systematic review observed a scarcity of disease-associated mortality data for Ethiopia, with only 14 studies identified [( 36 ), under review].…”

Patterns of mortality in domesticated ruminants in Ethiopia

“…Other likely sources of natural variation include different conditions for different years, such as droughts and epidemics (Alemayehu and Fantahun, 2012; Megersa et al, 2014). That there was evidence of spatiotemporal variation of risk factors and causes of mortality is not surprising, as seasonal and environmental variation affects grazing availability and ensuing movement and mixing of animals (Devereux, 2006; Getachew et al, 2010; Gelalcha et al, 2021) which can then affect disease transmission. A recent systematic review observed a scarcity of disease-associated mortality data for Ethiopia, with only 14 studies identified (Tsouloufi et al, 2022, submitted).…”

“…Several key informants recommended the strengthening of regional laboratories by fulfilling equipment needs and necessary funding, and suggesting that laboratories needed to strengthen their diagnostic capacity. A recent study reported that a lack of diagnostic laboratory resources, combined with the presence of most potential infectious and non-infectious causes of abortion made diagnosis particularly challenging in Ethiopia (Gelalcha et al, 2021).…”

Seroprevalence and associated risk factors for bovine leptospirosis in Egypt

“…Bovine leptospirosis is characterized mostly by reproductive losses such as abortions and stillbirths, as well as poor weight growth, mastitis, and reduction in milk yield. Nevertheless, laboratory testing, primarily serological techniques, are used to support the diagnosis 9 , 10 .…”