Apparent prevalence of brucellosis, Q-fever and toxoplasmosis in aborted goat’s at North Shoa, Ethiopia

Abortion imposes great economical loss in productivity and by product of small ruminants. The present study was conducted to determine the rate of abortion and apparent prevalence of Brucellosis, Toxoplasmosis and Q-fever in aborted goats from June 2015 to August 2019 in North Shoa, Ethiopia. During consecutive years of clinical case study 503 does were entered to mating, of which100 (19.5 %) animals aborted. There were significant differences (p=0.013) in abortion among parities. A total of 35 serum samples were collected from aborted does within six months periods. All samples were screened initially with Rose Bengal plate test (RBPT) for Brucellosis. All RBPT positive were further tested by i-ELISA. Also, serums were tasted to screen specific antibody against Q-fever and Toxoplasmosis using i-ELISA. Of total tested 64.7 % and 8.6 % of them were positive for Q-fever and Toxoplasmosis, respectively, but neither of them was positive for Brucellosis. The present clinical study revealed that abortion was the cause of kids’ loss and serological investigation of antibody against Q-fever and Toxoplasmosis showed that the agents were the major causes of abortion. Even though there was no positive reactor does to brucellosis, the result must be interpreted with care since absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Beside of this, some samples collected from active cases were sero-negative for neither of tested antibodies; it indicated there was other cause/s of abortion in the study site. These interesting findings deserve further detail study by using more sensitive diagnostic test in order to examine the full extent of the problem in small ruminant populations. Also, an awareness-raising campaign should be launched to educate farm workers and professionals about proper preventive and control measures for such zoonotic disease

Maedi-Visna: Sero-prevalence and risk factors in sheep population of South Wollo and North Shewa Zones, Ethiopia

Maedi-Visna (MV) is a chronic disease of adult sheep characterised by progressive interstitial pneumonia and other syndromes such as meningo-encephalitis, indurative mastitis, and arthritis. The study was conducted to determine the serological epidemiology and associated risk factors of Maedi-Visna in the highland of the North Shewa and South Wollo zones of the Amhara region, Ethiopia. A total of 807 serum samples were collected randomly from purposely selected areas and examined using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to screen specific antibodies against Maedi-Visna. The data were analysed using logistic regression. The overall seroprevalence of Maedi-Visna was 11.7%. The highest and lowest seroprevalence were in Basona-Werena (19.2) and Legambo (6.1%) districts, respectively. As per peasant associations, the highest and lowest seroprevalence were in the Agricultural Research Centre (63.5%) and Kormargefya (0.8 %), respectively. Despite the variation in prevalence level, the disease was insidiously disseminated to all the other study districts and peasant associations. The final multivariable logistic model identified age OR = 5.04 (95% CI: 1.19–21.43), production system OR = 6.96 (95% CI: 3.79–12.78) and body condition score OR = 10.12 (95% CI: 3.63–28.19) as the most important risk factors in relation to MV seroprevalence. This finding showed a higher prevalence of Maedi-Visna in research centre and ranches, which can be a source of Maedi-Visna virus infection in other parts of sheep producing areas. Therefore, strict and regular screening tests should be carried out during the introduction of new flocks and before the distribution of crossbreed rams, particularly from ranches and research centres to smallholder farmers

Sero-prevalence of Border Disease Virus Antibodies in Recently Introduced Dorper Sheep Flocks at Debre Birhan Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia

A study was conducted to investigate the serological prevalence of Border Disease Virus (BDV) antibodies in newly introduced Dorper sheep flocks at Debre Birhan Agricultural Research Center (DBARC), Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of 186 sheep in the research center and the serum was decanted and sent to the National Animal Health Diagnostic and Investigation Center, Sebeta, Ethiopia for laboratory examination. All serum samples were examined using blocking ELISA test with a sensitivity of 94.3% and specificity of 93.7% to detect antibodies for BDV. Of these, 55 (29.57%) tested sero-positive and the rest 131 (70.43%) tested sero-negative for BDV antibodies. The sero-prevalence of sheep born in the research center was found at 23.97% (29/121) whereas the sero-prevalence of those sheep imported directly from abroad was found at 40% (26/65). In this research, a higher prevalence of BDV antibodies were recorded in the imported sheep than in the sheep which are born in the research center and the difference in prevalence between the two groups was found statistically significant (P<0.05). Therefore, it is of utmost importance to study the status of the disease from indigenous breeds of sheep and utilize more sensitive tests such as RT-PCR

Evaluation of immune response of small ruminant flocks to ovine Pasteurellosis and Peste Des Petits Ruminants vaccines in North Shewa, Ethiopia

The present study was conducted to evaluate the flock immune response of small ruminants to ovine pasteurellosis Bio type A and Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) vaccines and to determine their effects on the morbidity and mortality of animals due to ovine pasteurellosis and PPR from October 2017 to November 2019 in selected districts of the north Shewa Zone, Ethiopia. A total of 553 serum samples were collected and examined by using the Competitive Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay and an indirect haemagglutination inhibition test for PPR and ovine pasteurellosis antibodies, respectively. Based on the results, the number of animals with an antibody titer of 1:10 after 28 days and six months of vaccinations of P. multocida Biotype A was 161 (93.1%) and 152 (81.7%), respectively. Also, the positive antibody level (i.e., percent of colour inhibition PI &gt; 50) after 28 days and 12 months of PPRV vaccinations was 82 (86.3%) and 69 (69.7%), respectively. There was a statistical difference (p &lt; 0.001) between the antibody levels after 28 days and six months of vaccination against ovine pasteurellosis and after 28 days and 12 months of vaccination (p &lt;0.01) for PPRV vaccines. During three consecutive years of intervention, out of a total of 2350 study animals, 500 cases (21.3%) showed respiratory signs, out of which 45 (1.9%) died. The PPR and ovine pasteurellosis vaccines applied in the field were effective in developing antibodies above the threshold herd immunity level of 80% and 70% respectively.Periodic vaccination against ovine pasteurellosis and PPR according to the epidemiology of the diseases results in a significant reduction in morbidity and mortality of small ruminants. Therefore, the current ongoing efforts to control ovine pasteurellosis and PPR of small ruminants through vaccination should be encouraged and strict sero-surveillance and monitoring of these diseases should be done side by side