Mapping the epidemiological distribution and incidence of major zoonotic diseases in South Tigray, North Wollo and Ab’ala (Afar), Ethiopia

Abstract

Zoonotic diseases continue to affect the health and livelihood of resource limited communities. In Ethiopia, despite the presence of a national master plan for prevention, control and elimination of some common zoonotic diseases, well-organized epidemiological data regarding incidence and distribution are lacking. A retrospective cross-sectional study based on a patient medical data recorded from 2012–2016 in selected districts of Southern Tigray, North Wollo zone of Amhara region and Ab’Ala district of Afar region was conducted to map the distribution and Incidence proportion of major zoonotic diseases. The incidence proportion of four major zoonotic diseases (helminthiasis, tuberculosis (TB), rabies and schistosomiasis) was mapped using qGIS software based on the Health Management Information System (HMIS) data collected from district health facilities. The result indicated that, out of a total 1,273,145 observed human disease cases, 53,614 (4.2%) of them were potential zoonotic diseases that include: helminthiasis (51,192), TB (2,085), rabies (227), schistosomiasis (105) and visceral leishmaniasis (7). The highest incidence proportion of TB (262.8 cases per 100,000 population) and rabies (33.2 cases per 100,000 population) were recorded in Gubalafto and Weldya followed by Raya Alamata (253.4 cases per 100,000 population %), and Ab’Ala and Raya Azebo (29 cases each per 100,000 population) for TB and rabies, respectively. The highest incidence proportion for schistosomiasis was reported in Raya Alamata (50.1 cases per 100,000 population) followed by Gubalafto and Weldya (10.8 cases per 100,000 population). The incidence proportion of visceral leishmaniasis per 100,000 population was 4.1, 1.3 and 1.2 cases for Ab’Ala, Gubalafto and Weldiya, and Raya Azebo districts, respectively. Except rabies, which showed high incidence proportion (p<0.0001) in 5–14 age groups, the other zoonotic diseases showed higher incidence proportion (p<0.0001) in age groups above 15 years. Rabies, helminthiasis and schistosomiasis showed statistically significant variation (p<0.0001) among seasons. Rabies and TB showed decreasing trend within the data recorded years. In animals, only 31 rabies cases and 15 anthrax cases were recorded from 2012 to 2016. This finding highlighted the distribution and incidence of some major zoonotic diseases in the study areas. Systematic and detailed research should be conducted in the future to map the distribution of major zoonotic diseases at regional and country level so as to initiate integrated effort from human and animal health authorities and professionals.

Prioritization of neglected tropical zoonotic diseases: A one health perspective from Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia

“…These top five priority NTZDs were also included in the list of priority zoonotic diseases at the country level, Ethiopia [12] reflecting the importance of these diseases in both the region and the country. In addition, a mapping study conducted in selected districts of Tigray, Afar, and Amhara regions has shown rabies, TB, leishmaniasis, and schistosomiasis as major NTZDs [8]. Rabies, anthrax, and brucellosis were considered in Kenya and Uganda among the top priority zoonotic diseases [24,25].…”

“…Anthrax, brucellosis, and taeniasis showed statistically significant variation with the perspectives of professionals. This may be explained by the lack of a reporting system for anthrax, brucellosis, and taeniasis in the HMIS, which downgrades the zoonotic and economic importance of these diseases [8]. On the contrary, these diseases are frequently encountered in veterinary practice.…”

“…As a result, NTZDs continued to affect the livelihoods of poor communities. Considering this fact, Ethiopia has developed a multi-year national master plan that enhances the prevention, control, and eradication of neglected tropical diseases [5,8].…”

Neglected tropical zoonotic diseases in Tigray region, northern Ethiopia: Spatial distribution and trend analysis of rabies, tuberculosis, schistosomiasis, and visceral leishmaniasis in humans

“…In Ethiopia, like other developing countries, NTZDs did not get the required attention at various levels. Data on their burden and distribution are incomplete and not updated periodically (Menghistu, Hailu, et al, 2018). Thus, NTZDs continued to affect the livelihoods of the poor communities and kill sizeable proportions of the population either as mono-infections or as co-infections with major killers such as HIV/AIDS (FDRE-MoH, 2016b).…”

“…Even though several researches have been undertaken on the epidemiology and prevalence of some of the NTZDs in various districts of the region, they lack to show a clear picture of the abundance and distribution of these diseases at regional and zonal levels (Abebe et al, 2014;Bsrat et al, 2018;Menghistu, Hailu, et al, 2018;Nigus et al, 2015;Teklu et al, 2017). Recently, Menghistu, Hailu, et al, (2018) have mapped the distribution and abundance of some major zoonotic diseases in few selected districts of Tigray, Afar, and Amhara regions of Ethiopia, which has shown the importance of mapping the distribution of neglected zoonotic diseases at a regional and country level. The major advantage of mapping the spatial distribution and burden of these zoonotic diseases is for an informed decision-making.…”