Comparative analysis of men and women leaders: the case of selected Addis Ababa branches of Commercial Bank of Ethiopia

This research is about comparative analysis of men and women leaders. It was assessed by a descriptive survey type of research at Commercial Bank of Ethiopia. A sample of 36 Addis Ababa Commercial Bank branch managers was selected. Of which the 18 female managers and 18 men branch managers were selected by matched sampling principle. Multifactor leadership questionnaire was used to determine the leadership style of each manager. The reported leadership style for each male leader and each female leader were then treated as two independent groups. The difference among these two groups was tasted by using t - test for significance of effect size. Differences were observed along transformational and laissez - faire dimensions. Male leaders were rated better on transformational dimensions while female leaders were rated better on laissez faire dimensions. The findings are indicative for the continued existence of traditional stereotypic perceptions about females in management

Prevalence and risk factors of ectoparasites in small ruminants in and around Haramaya University, eastern Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Infestation by external parasites causes mortality, decreased productivity and financial loss in the animal exports. A cross sectional study was conducted from November, 2016 to April, 2017 in and around Haramaya University, Eastern Oromia region, Ethiopia to determine the prevalence, host risk factors and identify ectoparasites on small ruminants. Accordingly, a total of 384 small ruminants (190 sheep, and 194 goats) were randomly selected and examined for the presence of ectoparasites. Then, samples of ectoparasites were collected manually and put in clean universal bottles containing 70% ethanol. The samples were transported to the Haramaya University Veterinary Parasitology laboratory and identified to genus/species level under stereomicroscope. The overall prevalence of ectoparasites was 98% (sheep 55.8% and goats 42.2%), and the major identified ectoparasites were ticks 80 (20.8%), lice 78 (20.3%) and fleas 70 (7.8%). The genus/species of the identified ectoparasites were lice (Damalina ovis, 12.8% and Linognathus stenopsis, 7.5%), fleas (Ctenocephalus, 7.8), ticks (Ambyloma variegatum, 6.8%, Boophilus decoloratus, 9.4%, Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, 2.9% and Hyalomma truncatum, 1.8%). Host risk factors such as sex, species, breed, body condition score and physiological status (pregnancy) were significantly associated (p<0.05) with the overall prevalence of ectoparasites in small ruminants. According to this study, there was high prevalence of ectoparasites in small ruminants of the study area. Therefore, to minimize this high prevalence of ectoparasites in small ruminants and their impacts, appropriate and strategic control measures are paramount important.Keywords: Ectoparasites; Haramaya University; Prevalence; Risk factors; Small Ruminant

Evaluation of Tradecorp AZ Bentley plus Fertilizer for Tomato Crop Yield Improvement under Irrigation in East Shoa Zone of Oromia, Ethiopia

አህፅሮት   ኢትዮጵያ ዳፕና ዩሪያ የተባሉ ማዳበሪያዎችን ለረጅም ጊዜ ስትጠቀም ብትቆይም በሀገሪቱ ያለው የአፈር ዓይነትና የስነ-ምህዳር ልዩነት መስፋት ሌሎች ማዳበሪያዎችን ማለትም የተለያዩ ማይክሮ ንጥረ-ነገሮችን ጭምር የያዙ ቅይጥ ማዳበሪያዎችን መጠቀም እንዳለባት ግንዛቤ ተገኝቷል፡፡ ስለሆነም የአፈርን ዓይነት፣ የተለያዩ ሰብሎችንና አካባቢን ግምት ውስጥ ያስገባ የተለያዩ አዳዲስ ማዳበሪያዎችን የመገምገምና አማራጭ ማዳበሪያ ለተጠቃሚው የማቅረብ ሥራ ያስፈልጋል፡፡ በዚህም ምክንያት ትሬድኮርፕ ኤዜድ ቤንትሊ ፕላስ የተባለ አዲስ ማዳበሪያ ውጤታማነቱንና  አዋጭነቱን ለመለየት በመስኖ ውሃ በመጠቀም በሚመረት የቲማቲም  ሰብል ላይ በምስራቅ ሸዋ ዞን በኦሮሚያ ክልል ከ2010-2011 ዓ.ም. ጥናቱ ተከናውኗል፡፡ ለዚህም ጥናት አዲሱን ማዳበሪያ በሦስት የተለያየ መጠን አሁን ለቲማቲም ሰብል ጥቅም ላይ እየዋለ ካለው የኬሚካል ማዳበሪያ ምክረ-ሃሳብ ጋር አቀናጅቶ ማሳ ላይ በመጨመር ተከናውኗል፡፡ የጥናቱ ውጤት አንደሚያሳየው ትሬድኮርፕ ኤዜድ ቤንትሊ ፕላስ ማዳበሪያን መጨመር የቲማቲም ምርት ላይ ጥሩ የሚባል መሻሻል አሳይቷል፡፡ በተጨማሪም ትሬድኮርፕ ኤዜድ ቤንትሊ ፕላስ ማዳበሪያን ጥቅም ላይ እየዋለ ካለው ምክረ-ሃሳብ ጋር አቀናጅቶ ማሳ ላይ መጨመር የቲማቲም ምርትን እንደጨመረና የገብያ አዋጭነቱም ተረጋግጧል፡፡ ስለዚህ ከዚህ ጥናት ማጠቃለል የሚቻለው ትሬድኮርፕ ኤዜድ ቤንትሊ ፕላስ ማዳበሪያን ጥናቱ ከተካሄደባቸው አካባቢዎች እንደ ደጓሚ ማዳበሪያ መጠቀም እንደሚቻል ነው፡፡   Abstract Ethiopia was using urea and DAP fertilizers as sources of nitrogen and phosphorous nutrients for a long time. However, the crop and agro-ecology diversity in the country demand more multi-nutrient blends including micronutrients than nitrogen and phosphorus. This increasing demand requires evaluation of different fertilizer resources based on soil type, crop species, and location to provide new alternative fertilizer products to the Ethiopian production system.  Cognizant of this fact, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Tradecorp AZ Bentley plus as a supplementary fertilizer to improve yield of tomato under irrigation in different areas in East Shoa Zone of Oromia, during 2018-2019. The experiment consisted of five treatments ( Control, recommended fertilizer, recommended fertilizer + 1.8 kg product, recommended fertilizer + 3.0 kg product and recommended fertilizer + 4.2 kg product) laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The results revealed that application of Tradecorp AZ Bentley plus fertilizer product improved tomato marketable and total yields at testing sites.  In addition, the application of Tradecorp AZ Bentley plus as supplementary fertilizer in combination with the recommended fertilizer rate attained acceptable net returns of tomato at both locations. Hence, Tradecorp AZ Bentley plus is recommended as supplemental fertilizer for tomato producing farmers in testing areas.   Keywords: East Shoa, Tomato yield, Tradecorp AZ Bentley plu

Antibiogram of E. coli serotypes isolated from children aged under five with acute diarrhea in Bahir Dar town

Background: Diarrheal disease and its complications remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children. The prevalence and antibiogram of E. coli as causative agents of diarrhea vary from region to region, and even within countries in the same geographical area.Objectives: To determine the serotype and antimicrobial susceptibility of E. coli in children under-five years of age.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 children with diarrhea from December 2011 to February 2012. Identification of E. coli and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were done following standard procedures.Results: The overall isolation rate of E. coli was 48.3%. Poly 2 sero-groups, poly 3 sero-groups, poly 4 sero-groups and E. coli O157:H7 accounted for 80 (39.2%), 40 (19.6%), 25 (12.3%), and 59 (28.9%) of the isolates, respectively. Poly 2 sero- groups, constituting isolates belonging to enteropathogenic E. coli were the most commonly isolated serotypes. E. coli exhibited high levels of antimicrobial resistance to ampicillin (86.8%), tetracycline (76%) and cotrimoxazole (76%). Low levels of resistance to ciprofloxacin (6.9%) and norfloxacin (9.3%) were documented.Conclusion: High prevalence of diarrheagenic E. coli compounded by alarming antimicrobial resistances is a serious public health problem. Regular determination of antibiogram and public education are recommended.Keywords: E. coli, antimicrobial susceptibility, diarrhea, Ethiopi

The Role of Woody Plant Functional Traits for Sustainable Soil Management in the Agroforestry System of Ethiopia

A woody plant functional trait that directly affects its fitness and environment is decisive to ensure the success of an Agroforestry practice. Hence, recognizing the woody plant functional traits is very important to boost and sustain the productivity of the system when different plants are sharing common resources, like in Agroforestry system. Therefore, the objective of this paper was to understand how woody plant functional traits contribute to sustainable soil management in Agroforestry system and to give the way forward in the case of Ethiopia. The contribution of woody plant species in improving soil fertility and controlling soil erosion is attributed by litter accumulation rate and the season, decomposability and nutrient content of the litter, root physical and chemical trait, and spread canopy structure functional trait. However, spread canopy structure functional trait is used in coffee based Agroforestry system, while with management in Parkland Agro forestry System. Woody species of Agroforestry system added a significant amount of soil TN, OC, Av.P, K, Na, Ca, and Mg nutrients to the soil. Woody plant species of Agroforestry system and their functional traits are very important to ensure sustainable soil management. Thus, further investigation of the woody plant functional traits especially the compatibility of trees with cops is needed to fully utilize the potential of woody species for sustainable soil management practice

Antibiogram of E. coli serotypes isolated from children aged under five with acute diarrhea in Bahir Dar town

Background: Diarrheal disease and its complications remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children. The prevalence and antibiogram of E. coli as causative agents of diarrhea vary from region to region, and even within countries in the same geographical area. Objectives: To determine the serotype and antimicrobial susceptibility of E. coli in children under-five years of age. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 children with diarrhea from December 2011 to February 2012. Identification of E. coli and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were done following standard procedures. Results: The overall isolation rate of E. coli was 48.3%. Poly 2 sero-groups, poly 3 sero-groups, poly 4 sero-groups and E. coli O157:H7 accounted for 80 (39.2%), 40 (19.6%), 25 (12.3%), and 59 (28.9%) of the isolates, respectively. Poly 2 sero- groups, constituting isolates belonging to enteropathogenic E. coli were the most commonly isolated serotypes. E. coli exhibited high levels of antimicrobial resistance to ampicillin (86.8%), tetracycline (76%) and cotrimoxazole (76%). Low levels of resistance to ciprofloxacin (6.9%) and norfloxacin (9.3%) were documented. Conclusion: High prevalence of diarrheagenic E. coli compounded by alarming antimicrobial resistances is a serious public health problem. Regular determination of antibiogram and public education are recommended

Epidemiological study of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Saesie Tsaeda-emba district, eastern Tigray, northern Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the endemic and neglected diseases known to exist in Ethiopian highlands. However, little is known about its epidemiological characteristics. Hence, this study was initiated and conducted from November 2011 to April 2012 to assess the epidemiological situation of CL in Saesie Tsaeda-emba District. METHODS: A cross sectional design was employed in six randomly selected Peasant associations and a house to house survey was carried out in the District. Detailed clinical assessment, and smear and culture for Leishmania parasite detection were done to confirm clinical suspension. Polymerase Chain Reaction and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of the ribosomal DNA Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS-1) sequences was used to type isolates. Sandfly collection was also conducted in possible micro-habitats of the target areas. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of CL in the District was 14.0% (6.7% for active lesion and 7.3% for scar) with the highest prevalence amongst the age group of 10–19 years. Field isolates typed were L. aethiopica. Environmental and host risk factors significantly associated with CL distribution were age, study Peasant associations, presence of cave/gorge, walls with cracks and/or holes, presence of hyrax, animal burrow, animal dung and farm land near to residents’ houses. Five phlebotomine sandflies, Phlebotomus longipes, Sergentomyia bedfordi, S.africana, S.schwetzi and S.antenata were captured. CONCLUSION: All the precipitating factors in the area are indicative of the public health importance of CL although there has been little attention given. The present study is a starter for wider investigation into the mode of its transmission, incrimination of sandfly vectors and possible animal reservoirs. Detailed information will be the basis to launch effective control of CL in the area. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-015-0758-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Diagnostic accuracy of three commercially available one step RT-PCR assays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in resource limited settings

Background COVID-19 is an ongoing public health pandemic regardless of the countless efforts made by various actors. Quality diagnostic tests are important for early detection and control. Notably, several commercially available one step RT-PCR based assays have been recommended by the WHO. Yet, their analytic and diagnostic performances have not been well documented in resource-limited settings. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivities and specificities of three commercially available one step reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays in Ethiopia in clinical setting. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from April to June, 2021 on 279 respiratory swabs originating from community surveillance, contact cases and suspect cases. RNA was extracted using manual extraction method. Master-mix preparation, amplification and result interpretation was done as per the respective manufacturer. Agreements between RT-PCRs were analyzed using kappa values. Bayesian latent class models (BLCM) were fitted to obtain reliable estimates of diagnostic sensitivities, specificities of the three assays and prevalence in the absence of a true gold standard. Results Among the 279 respiratory samples, 50(18%), 59(21.2%), and 69(24.7%) were tested positive by TIB, Da An, and BGI assays, respectively. Moderate to substantial level of agreement was reported among the three assays with kappa value between 0 .55 and 0.72. Based on the BLCM relatively high specificities (95% CI) of 0.991(0.973–1.000), 0.961(0.930–0.991) and 0.916(0.875–0.952) and considerably lower sensitivities with 0.813(0.658–0.938), 0.836(0.712–0.940) and 0.810(0.687–0.920) for TIB MOLBIOL, Da An and BGI respectively were found. Conclusions While all the three RT-PCR assays displayed comparable sensitivities, the specificities of TIB MOLBIOL and Da An were considerably higher than BGI. These results help adjust the apparent prevalence determined by the three RT-PCRs and thus support public health decisions in resource limited settings and consider alternatives as per their prioritization matrix

Prevalence, risk factors and bacterial causes of bovine mastitis in southern Ethiopia

Mastitis is one of the most economically important diseases in dairy farms worldwide. It is particularly important in Ethiopia where no routine prevention and control practices are in place. This cross-sectional study was carried out between October 2017 and June 2018 to estimate the prevalence of mastitis, identify the associated risk factors and isolate bacterial causes in dairy farms located in southern Ethiopia using standard microbiological methods and questionnaire survey. A total of 686 lactating cows which were found in 122 selected dairy farms were investigated by physical examination and California mastitis test. The overall cow-level prevalence of mastitis was 54.2% (95% CI: 50.5 – 57.9%). Based on the study site, the prevalence was 55.7% in Hawassa, 54.3% in Arsi Negele, 52.6% each in Wondo Genet and Wolayta Soddo towns with no significant (p > 0.05) difference among the sites. The majority of mastitis cases were subclinical (48.1%) while the clinical mastitis was only 6.1%. Of the 122 herds tested, 109 (89.3%; 95% CI: 82.1 – 93.9%) had at least a cow positive for mastitis. The study showed that high parity number (OR = 1.6; p = 0.015), flat (OR = 4.5; p <0.001) and round (OR = 2; p <0.001) teat end shape, history of mastitis in preceding lactation (OR = 3.3; p <0.001), and slightly (OR = 3.5; p < 0.001), moderately (OR = 4.9; p < 0.001), and very dirty (OR = 9.2; p < 0.001) udder and legs were the major risk factors which are significantly associated with higher prevalence of mastitis. Based on the available media and reagents, the major bacteria isolated from subclinical mastitic milk samples were Staphylococcus spp. (57.3%), Streptococcus spp. (18.6%), E. coli (17.3%) and Bacillus spp. (7.5%) in order of their abundance. The present study revealed a high prevalence of mastitis, particularly the subclinical one, and the associated risk factors. Enhancing the awareness of dairy farmers, regular screening of cows for subclinical mastitis, proper treatment of the clinical cases, improving the hygienic condition of the cows, and culling of chronically infected cows are critically important to prevent and control bovine mastitis. Keywords: Mastitis, Prevalence, Risk factors, Southern Ethiopi

Antimicrobial resistance surveillance in Ethiopia: Implementation experiences and lessons learned

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a global threat. High levels of AMR to commonly used antibiotics have been reported in East Africa. A situation analysis of AMR in Ethiopia also indicated high resistance levels. To prevent and contain AMR, Ethiopia established a national surveillance network. Objectives: This article describes the steps taken to prioritise AMR and establish the National Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System in Ethiopia, as well as present the challenges and lessons learned through implementation. Methods: In April 2017, Ethiopia had developed and approved the National AMR Surveillance Plan for laboratory-based AMR surveillance. The World Health Organization recommendations and Ethiopias’s current microbiology capacity were used to prioritise organisms for reporting. The surveillance system is comprised of a network linking the national reference laboratory with surveillance sentinel sites. Roll-out of the AMR surveillance network occurred in three phases in order to ensure successful implementation. Results: Electronic capture and transmission of data, supply chain for the microbiology laboratory and communication problems were challenges observed after implementation started. Support from Ethiopian Public Health Institute focal persons for data entry, regular scheduled communication establishment and procurement of supplies by the American Society for Microbiology were some of the measures taken to address the challenges. Conclusion: Ethiopia has demonstrated that setting up AMR surveillance in lower resource settings is possible with strong leadership and stakeholder engagement