Ethiopian indigenous goats offer insights into past and recent demographic dynamics and localadaptation in sub-Saharan African goats

Abstract Knowledge on how adaptive evolution and human socio‐cultural and economic interests shaped livestock genomes particularly in sub‐Saharan Africa remains limited. Ethiopia is in a geographic region that has been critical in the history of African agriculture with ancient and diverse human ethnicity and bio‐climatic conditions. Using 52K genome‐wide data analysed in 646 individuals from 13 Ethiopian indigenous goat populations, we observed high levels of genetic variation. Although runs of homozygosity (ROH) were ubiquitous genome‐wide, there were clear differences in patterns of ROH length and abundance and in effective population sizes illustrating differences in genome homozygosity, evolutionary history, and management. Phylogenetic analysis incorporating patterns of genetic differentiation and gene flow with ancestry modelling highlighted past and recent intermixing and possible two deep ancient genetic ancestries that could have been brought by humans with the first introduction of goats in Africa. We observed four strong selection signatures that were specific to Arsi‐Bale and Nubian goats. These signatures overlapped genomic regions with genes associated with morphological, adaptation, reproduction and production traits due possibly to selection under environmental constraints and/or human preferences. The regions also overlapped uncharacterized genes, calling for a comprehensive annotation of the goat genome. Our results provide insights into mechanisms leading to genome variation and differentiation in sub‐Saharan Africa indigenous goats

Study on monthly dynamics of ticks and seroprevalence of Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bigemina and Theileria mutans in four indigenous breeds of cattle in Ghibe Valley, Ethiopia

No Abstract.SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science Vol. 31 (1) 2008: pp. 11-2

Resistance Of Abigar, Guraghe, Horro And Sheko Breeds Of Cattle To Tick Infestation In Ghibe – Tolley Valley

Les collectes de tiques, à un mois d\'intervalles pendant dix mois, sur la moitié du corps des génisses appartenant à quatre races locales (Abigar, Guraghe, Horro et Sheko) infestées naturellement, ont révélé que les races Horro et Guraghe abritaient beaucoup moins de tiques (en moyenne 12 ± 1,7 / mois) que les races Sheko (en moyenne 16 ± 4,1/ mois) et Abigar (15 ± 3,4 / mois) (P< 0,001). Les nombres de tiques A. variegatum recueillies ont également montré de nettes différences entre les races Sheko et Horro (

Study on monthly dynamics of ticks and seroprevalence of Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bigemina and Theileria mutans in four indigenous breeds of cattle in Ghibe valley, Ethiopia

Monthly collection of ticks in the period January through October, 2002 was conducted in the Ghibe Valley of Ethiopia from randomly selected cohort of 60 heifers belonging to four indigenous cattle breeds namely Abigar, Sheko, Horro and Guraghe. The most abundant tick species were Amblyomma variegatum (39.5%), Boophilus decoloratus (39.1 %), A. cohaerens (10.5%) and Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi (6.7%). 'Species of least abundance include R. praetextatus, Haemaphysalis aciculifer, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes, R. bergeoni, R. lunulatus, R. muhsame and R. pravus, altogether comprising 4.2% of the overall tick species. The monthly abundance of adult ticks, their feeding sites on the hosts and the male to female sex ratio were determined. The seroprevalence of Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bigemina and Theileria mutans was studied using indirect Enzyme Linked lmmunosorbant Assay (indirect ELISA) using blood samples collected in April, June, August and October 2002. The period prevalence of antibodies of A. marginale, B. bigemina and T. mutans was found to be 84.2, 87.1 and 54.2 per cent, respectively. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of the diseases among the breeds, except the higher prevalence of A. marginale in Horro (P < 0.05). The overall high seroprevalence values suggest the presence of enzootic stability in the cattle population in the area for A. marginale and B. bigemina infections while the relatively low seroprevalence of T. mutans indicated the state of enzootic instability in the population. The implications of these findings on the health of the cattle and hence the economic impact is discussed

Response of four indigenous cattle breeds to natural tsetse and trypanosomosis challenge in the Ghibe valley of Ethiopia

A comparative study on the response of four indigenous cattle breeds of Ethiopia, namely Abigar, Horro, Sheko and Gurage, to natural challenge of trypanosomosis in the Tolley–Gullele area of the Ghibe valley has been undertaken from August 2000 until August 2004. Fifty female yearlings each of Horro, Sheko and Abigar and 31 of the Gurage were purchased from their natural habitats and introduced in to medium to high tsetse–trypanosomosis challenge area of the Ghibe valley. While the natural habitats of first three breeds are naturally infested with tsetse flies and trypanosomosis, that of the Gurage is known to be very minimal, if any, and hence the Gurage breed was used in this study as the known susceptible breed. During the study animal health, production performance and tsetse fly situation were monitored monthly. The Sheko breed has manifested very significantly (p < 0.001) high overall average packed cell volume (PCV) values (25%) compared to that of Abigar (24%), Horro (23%) and Gurage (22%). It also had the lowest mean trypanosome prevalence rate of 9% against 23% of Horro, 26% of Abigar and 27% of Gurage, and the least number of Berenil® treatments (1.36) compared to Abigar (4.0), Horro (4.6) and Gurage (6.7). While the Abigar manifested high sensitivity and frequent death to PCV depression, the Horro showed strong resilience to PCV depression and better response to Berenil® treatment assistance. At this stage the Sheko breed was also found to be equal to the other breeds in its reproductive performance. These results need to be substantiated with further in-depth investigation including immune response, animal behavior and environmental influences

Trypanosomosis and phenotypic features of four indigenous cattle breeds in an Ethiopian field study

We conducted a two-part study in the native home areas of four cattle breeds, Abigar, Gurage, Horro and Sheko, in south-western Ethiopia. The first part of the study investigated livestock keeper knowledge about trypanosomosis and trypanotolerance. For each breed 60 livestock keepers were interviewed, resulting in a total of 240 interviews. The second part of the study focused on biological evidence for trypanotolerance. Blood samples of about 100 head of cattle per breed were collected during peak trypanosomosis challenge period and analyzed for packed cell volume (PCV) and parasitaemia. In addition individual body measurements of the sampled animals were taken and the keepers provided some information regarding their animals. Livestock keeper interviews revealed that trypanosomosis was considered a major problem in all areas (95–100%). Almost all Abigar livestock keepers knew how trypanosomosis is transmitted, whereas only 34–52% of the keepers of the other breeds had that knowledge. Most Sheko keepers (75%) knew of trypanotolerance and claimed to have trypanotolerant animals in their own herds. Among the other three breeds the knowledge of trypanotolerance was much less (8–18%). A majority of the keepers were interested in purchasing trypanotolerant animals. PCV was highest among Horro (26.2) and Sheko (25.1) cattle whereas Abigar had the lowest PCV (20.0). Sheko were least infected by trypanosomes (6%) and had the lowest number of trypanocidal treatments per year (1 treatment/animal and year). Abigar cattle were most infected (23%) followed by Gurage (20%) and Horro (17%). Gurage had by far the highest number of treatments per animal and year (24). There were large differences between the number of cattle perceived by the keepers to be infected, and the number detected from blood sampled, among Abigar, Gurage and Horro. Sheko livestock keepers were better at correctly diagnosing trypanosomosis in their animals. It is concluded that Sheko cattle have higher trypanotolerance attributes of the breeds investigated and a better use of this breed could improve cattle health and household welfare in tsetse-infested areas

Economic burden of bovine trypanosomosis in three villages of Metekel zone, Northwest Ethiopia

The study was carried out to assess the economic burden of trypanosomosis in three villages of the Metekel zone in 2009. The disease was found to cause substantial economic losses through cattle mortality, drug purchase, and draft power loss of infected oxen. The farmers in the area were spending a significantly (p < 0.05) higher amount of money for the treatment of trypanosomosis than all other diseases combined. The overall mortality rate of cattle due to trypanosomosis was 4.4%. The mortality was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in an area where trypanosomosis prevalence was also higher. Many of the farmers prioritized losses of draft power as the most important impact of the disease. The overall prevalence of the disease was 12.1%. The disease burden was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the rainy season than at other times of the year. In general, farmers had good knowledge on the signs and seasonality of trypanosomosis. Thus, tsetse suppression activities that involve the local community can be an important tool towards minimizing the economic burden of the disease in the area