Preliminary Study on Avian Tuberculosis and Associated Risks in Domestic Chickens at Shashemene District, Ethiopia

The study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of avian tuberculosis (TB) and assess associated risk factors in Shashemene District. In addition, the zoonotic implication of avian tuberculosis in the District was investigated. In this study, 260 adult domestic chickens of both sexes were tested by tuberculin test on their wattle. Test positive chickens were sacrificed and examined for the presence of tuberculous lesion. Suspicious lesions were cultured for mycobacterial isolation and characterization using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). On top of these, questionnaire was used to assess public perception and the potential public health risks of the disease. The prevalence of avian TB at Shashemene District was 4.23% (11/260). Gross TB lesions were detected in six of the 11 tuberculin positive chickens. Culture positivity was confirmed in three of the chicken with gross lesions. These isolates were confirmed to be members of the Genus Mycobacterium. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that male owners had a better knowledge of avian TB compared to females (adjusted OR=2.01; 95% CI: 0. 35-11.26). Furthermore, human TB exposed owners had better knowledge of avian TB compared to TB unexposed owners (adjusted OR=3.92; 95% CI: 0.98-15.76). The survey indicated that chicken kept in extensive production system and as there exist a close physical contact between the chicken and their owners, there could a possibility of transmission of mycobacteria between chicken and their owners. On top of this, the low perception of the owners about zoonotic TB including avian TB could add up to the transmission. Keywords: Avian tuberculosis, domestic chicken, M. avium complex, prevalence, Shashemene

Erratum to: Utilization of health facilities and predictors of health-seeking behavior for under-five children with acute diarrhea in slums of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study

Upon publication of the original article [1], it was noticed that the second sentence of Section Methods, sub-section study setting, \u2018Three slum kebeles in Gullele Sub-City\u2019s District (Woreda) 01 and four slum kebeles in Lideta Sub- City\u2019s District 05 were included in the study\u2019 was incorrectly given as \u2018Four slum kebeles in Gullele Sub-City\u2019s District (Woreda) 01 and three slum kebeles in Lideta Sub-City\u2019s District 05 were included in the study\u2019. This has now been acknowledged and corrected in this erratum

Utilization of health facilities and predictors of health-seeking behavior for under-five children with acute diarrhea in slums of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study

Background: Information on health-seeking behavior and utilization of health facilities in slums of Addis Ababa is scarce, impeding the implementation of effective interventions. The purpose of this study is to assess the status of health facilities utilization and predictors for health-seeking behavior of mothers/caregivers of under-five children with acute diarrhea in slums of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was employed in five rounds of surveys in seven kebeles in slums of Addis Ababa among 472 mothers/caregivers of 472 under-five children with acute diarrhea in reference to Andersen\u2019s behavioral model. Data were entered into EpiData Version 3.1 and analyzed using STATA Version 14.0. Descriptive statistics were used to examine patterns of health facilities utilization and multivariable logistic regression analysis was applied to identify predictors associated with health-seeking behavior. Results: Most mothers/caregivers (70.8%) sought care either at home (14.2%) or health facilities (56.6%), whereas 29.2% reported that they did not seek any care. Of those who consulted health facilities, government health facilities (76.9%) were more utilized than private (18.0%) and informal (5.1%) health facilities. Nearly all (93.9%) of the mothers/caregivers using government health facilities used health centers, and of those who took their children to private health facilities (60.9%) used clinics and 26.1% used pharmacies/drug vendors. Mothers/caregivers visiting health facilities obtained mainly oral rehydration salt (ORS) (39.8%) and home-recommended fluids (HRF) (40.3%), but few of them (11.9%) obtained ORS plus zinc supplementation. Predisposing factors of literacy of mothers/caregivers (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.4; 95% CI 1.4\u20134. 1) and occupation (AOR = 2.6; 95% CI 1.5\u20134.6), the enabling factors of households monthly income of 50 United States Dollars (US$) and above (AOR = 2.9; 95% CI 1.5\u20135.6) and availability of nearest health facilities within 15 min walking distance (AOR = 3.3; 95% CI 1.7\u20136.6), and the need factors of recognizing danger signs of fever (AOR = 4.3; 95% CI 2.4\u20137.6) and vomiting (AOR = 3.3; 95% CI 1.8\u20135.9) were significantly associated with health-seeking behavior. Conclusions: Increasing the proximity of health facilities in slums and health education and socioeconomic development programs targeting illiterate mothers/caregivers and poor households may promote and increase health-seeking behavior and the accessibility of health facilities for the treatment of acute diarrhea in under-five children in Addis Ababa slums

Evaluation of the GenoType MTBDRplus assay for detection of rifampicin- and isoniazid-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates in central Ethiopia

AbstractObjective/Background: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is growing globally and becoming a major challenge for national TB control programs. Therefore, rapid identification of MDR strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and monitoring their transmission could contribute significantly to the control of TB. The GenoType MTBDRplus assay has been recommended by the World Health Organization to identify rifampicin (RIF)- and isoniazid (INH)-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates. This study was carried out to evaluate the performance of the GenoType MTBDRplus assay for the detection of RIF- and INH-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates in central Ethiopia. Methods: A total of 279 M. tuberculosis strains isolated from active TB cases in central Ethiopia were evaluated for their drug sensitivity by the conventional drug-susceptibility test (DST) and compared with data derived from the GenoType MTBDRplus assay. The DST served as the gold standard for evaluating the GenoType MTBDRplus assay. Results: The sensitivity and specificity of the GenoType MTBDRplus assay for the detection of RIF-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates were 80.0% and 99.6%, respectively. Its sensitivity and specificity for the detection of INH-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates were 82.7% and 99.6%, respectively, whereas they were 75.0% and 100%, respectively, for the detection of MDR M. tuberculosis strains. The concordances of the GenoType MTBDRplus assay and the conventional DST for the detection of RIF and INH susceptibility were 80% (8/10) and 86.2% (25/29), respectively. Furthermore, the concordance of the two tests for the detection of MDR M. tuberculosis strains was 75%. Specific mutations were detected in 55.6% (5/9) of the RIF-resistant isolates, with the highest mutation rate (33.3%) for the rpoB gene (Codon S531L). For INH-resistant isolates, the highest mutation rate (88.8%) related to a katG mutation (Codon S315T1). Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that the GenoType MTBDRplus assay has high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of RIF and INH resistance. These preliminary data support the notion that the assay should be considered as an alternative to the DST for the characterization of MDR in M. tuberculosis isolates and the control of TB

Protocol optimization for elimination of sugarcane bacilliform virus and rapid propagation of virus-free sugarcane using meristem tip culture

DATA AVAILABILITY : The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author up on request.Tissue culture protocol was optimized for the propagation of virus-free sugarcane from infected plants using meristem tips as an explant source for the elimination of sugarcane bacilliform virus (SCBV).Virus identification on the mother (source) plant and virus indexing to monitor elimination in the tissue culture-derived plants were done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using degenerate SCBV primers. Murashige and Skoog (MS) media supplemented with 0.5 mg/l BAP + 0.25 mg/l kinetin and 0.1 mg/l GA3 + 0.5 mg/l NAA were the best hormone combination for shoot multiplication and root induction, respectively. Two explant size categories (< 1 mm and 1–2 mm) were used to assess the effect of explant size on shoot regeneration and virus elimination. The results showed that explant size affects shoot regeneration. Smaller sized (< 1 mm) explants showed higher virus elimination efficiency; however, the survival frequency of explants during initiation of shoot cultures was higher in larger (1–2 mm) meristems (64.3%) in comparison to the smaller ones (35.7%). In conclusion, in vitro meristem tip culture alone is not a satisfactory approach for the generation of SCBV-free plant from infected mother plant. The virus elimination efficiency could be enhanced by using the combination of meristem tip culture with other therapies.The Addis Ababa Science and Technology University.https://link.springer.com/journal/40858hj2023Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)Plant Production and Soil ScienceSDG-15:Life on lan

Adoption of Biosecurity Practices in Smallholder Dairy Farms in Ethiopia

Dairy production is an important livelihood source for smallholder dairy farmers who produce the majority of milk consumed and traded in Ethiopia. Dairy production is, however, constrained by livestock diseases that impact farm productivity, food safety, and animal welfare. Biosecurity measures (BSM) include all risk reduction strategies designed to avoid the introduction of pathogenic infections from outside and minimise the spread of diseases within dairy herds. This study used a cross-sectional survey to investigate the adoption of BSM in dairy farms in Addis Ababa and Oromia regions of Ethiopia. Using a questionnaire, scores for adopted external and internal BSM were calculated based on the Ghent’s University Biocheck tool to compare the performance of different farms in Ethiopia. The weighted external biosecurity score was 49.1%, which was below average (below 50% adoption), while the weighted internal biosecurity score was 55.5%. Low adoption of crucial BSM increases the risk of disease introduction into dairy farms and transmission within herds. Adoption of BSM at the farm level was driven by individual, demographic, and socio-economic drivers, including education, farming system, milk value chain, and farming experience among others. Results of this research reveal low adoption of BSM and the imperative to encourage farmers to implement BSM can lead to a reduction in disease pressures and, thus, a reduction in antibiotic use and increased dairy farms productivity, and improved animal health and welfare. Farmers can be encouraged through proactive engagement with veterinarians and extension professionals. Moreover, creating a favourable policy environment can support farmers to adopt and implement BSM, given the known fact that “prevention is better and cheaper than curing diseases.

Field evaluation of specific mycobacterial protein-based skin test for the differentiation of Mycobacterium bovis-infected and Bacillus Calmette Guerin-vaccinated crossbred cattle in Ethiopia

Funder: The Defense Science and Technology LaboratoryFunder: Medical Research Council; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000265Funder: Economic and Social Research Council; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000269Funder: Department for International Development, UK Government; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000278Funder: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000268Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) challenges intensive dairy production in Ethiopia and implementation of the test and slaughter control strategy is not economically acceptable in the country. Vaccination of cattle with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) could be an important adjunct to control, which would require a diagnostic test to differentiate Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis)-infected and BCG-vaccinated animals (DIVA role). This study describes an evaluation of a DIVA skin test (DST) that is based on a cocktail (DSTc) or fusion (DSTf) of specific (ESAT-6, CFP-10 and Rv3615c) M. bovis proteins in Zebu-Holstein-Friesians crossbred cattle in Ethiopia. The study animals used were 74 calves (35 BCG vaccinated and 39 unvaccinated) aged less than 3 weeks at the start of experiment and 68 naturally infected 'TB reactor' cows. Six weeks after vaccination, the 74 calves were tested with the DSTc and the single intradermal cervical comparative tuberculin (SICCT) test. The TB reactor cows were tested with the DSTc and the SICCT test. Reactions to the DSTc were not observed in BCG-vaccinated and unvaccinated calves, while SICCT test reactions were detected in vaccinated calves. DSTc reactions were detected in 95.6% of the TB reactor cows and single intradermal tuberculin positive reactions were found in 98.2% (95% confidence interval, CI, 92.1-100%). The sensitivity of the DSTc was 95.6% (95% CI, 87.6-99.1%), and significantly (p < .001) higher than the sensitivity (75%, 95% CI, 63.0-84.7%) of the SICCT test at 4 mm cut-off. DSTf and DSTc reactions were correlated (r = 0.75; 95% CI = 0.53-0.88). In conclusion, the DSTc could differentiate M. bovis-infected from BCG-vaccinated cattle in Ethiopia. DST had higher sensitivity than the SICCT test. Hence, the DSTc could be used as a diagnostic tool for bTB if BCG vaccination is implemented for the control of bTB in Ethiopia and other countries

Residential food environment, household wealth and maternal education association to preschoolers’ consumption of plant-based vitamin A-rich foods: the EAT Addis survey in Addis Ababa

Vitamin A deficiency is common among preschoolers in low-income settings and a serious public health concern due to its association to increased morbidity and mortality. The limited consumption of vitamin A-rich food is contributing to the problem. Many factors may influence children’s diet, including residential food environment, household wealth, and maternal education. However, very few studies in low-income settings have examined the relationship of these factors to children’s diet together. This study aimed to assess the importance of residential food availability of three plant-based groups of vitamin A-rich foods, household wealth, and maternal education for preschoolers’ consumption of plant-based vitamin A-rich foods in Addis Ababa. A multistage sampling procedure was used to enroll 5467 households with under-five children and 233 residential food environments with 2568 vendors. Data were analyzed using a multilevel binary logistic regression model. Overall, 36% (95% CI: 34.26, 36.95) of the study children reportedly consumed at least one plant-based vitamin A-rich food group in the 24-h dietary recall period. The odds of consuming any plant-based vitamin A-rich food were significantly higher among children whose mothers had a higher education level (AOR: 2.55; 95% CI: 2.01, 3.25), those living in the highest wealth quintile households (AOR: 2.37; 95% CI: 1.92, 2.93), and in residentials where vitamin A-rich fruits were available (AOR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.41). Further research in residential food environment is necessary to understand the purchasing habits, affordability, and desirability of plant-based vitamin A-rich foods to widen strategic options to improve its consumption among preschoolers in low-income and low-education communities

Evaluation of the Efficacy of BCG in Protecting Against Contact Challenge With Bovine Tuberculosis in Holstein-Friesian and Zebu Crossbred Calves in Ethiopia

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is prevalent in intensive dairy farms in Ethiopia. Vaccination could be an alternative control approach given the socio-economic challenges of a test-and-slaughter control strategy. The efficacy of the BCG was evaluated on 40 Holstein-Friesian (HF) and zebu crossbred calves recruited from single intradermal cervical comparative tuberculin (SICCT) test negative herds and randomly allocated into two groups. Twenty-two calves were vaccinated within 2 weeks of age, and 18 were kept as a control. Six weeks post-vaccination, the two groups were exposed and kept mixed with known SICCT test positive cows for 1 year. Immune responses were monitored by interferon gamma (IFN-γ) release assay (IGRA), SICCT test, and antibody assay. Vaccinated calves developed strong responses to the SICCT test at the sixth week post-vaccination, but did not respond to ESAT-6/CFP-10 peptide antigen-based IGRA. During the exposure, IFN-γ response to the specific peptide cocktail [F(2.44, 92.67) = 26.96; p < 0.001] and skin reaction to the specific proteins cocktail [F(1.7, 64.3); p < 0.001] increased progressively in both groups while their antibody responses were low. The prevalence of bTB was 88.9% (95% CI: 65.3–98.6) and 63.6% (95% CI: 40.7–83.8) in the control and vaccinated calves, respectively, based on Mycobacterium bovis isolation, giving a direct protective efficacy estimate of 28.4% (95% CI: −2.7 to 50.1). The proportion of vaccinated calves with lesion was 7.0% (34/484) against 11.4% (45/396) in control calves, representing a 38% (95% CI: 5.8–59.4) reduction of lesion prevalence. Besides, the severity of pathology was significantly lower (Mann–Whitney U-test, p < 0.05) in vaccinated (median score = 2.0, IQR = 0–4.75) than in control (median score = 5, IQR = 3.0–6.25) calves. Moreover, survival from M. bovis infection in vaccinated calves was significantly (log-rank test: χ2 = 6.749, p < 0.01) higher than that of the control calves. In conclusion, the efficacy of BCG was low, but the reduced frequency and severity of lesion in vaccinated calves could suggest its potential role in containing onward transmission

Zoonotic tuberculosis in a high bovine tuberculosis burden area of Ethiopia

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) is a major cause of ill health and one of the leading causes of death worldwide, caused by species of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), with Mycobacterium tuberculosis being the dominant pathogen in humans and Mycobacterium bovis in cattle. Zoonotic transmission of TB (zTB) to humans is frequent particularly where TB prevalence is high in cattle. In this study, we explored the prevalence of zTB in central Ethiopia, an area highly affected by bovine TB (bTB) in cattle.MethodA convenient sample of 385 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB, N = 287) and tuberculous lymphadenitis (TBLN, N = 98) were included in this cross-sectional study in central Ethiopia. Sputum and fine needle aspirate (FNA) samples were obtained from patients with PTB and TBLN, respectively, and cultures were performed using BACTEC™ MGIT™ 960. All culture positive samples were subjected to quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays, targeting IS1081, RD9 and RD4 genomic regions for detection of MTBC, M. tuberculosis and M. bovis, respectively.ResultsTwo hundred and fifty-five out of 385 sampled patients were culture positive and all were isolates identified as MTBC by being positive for the IS1081 assay. Among them, 249 (97.6%) samples had also a positive RD9 result (intact RD9 locus) and were consequently classified as M. tuberculosis. The remaining six (2.4%) isolates were RD4 deficient and thereby classified as M. bovis. Five out of these six M. bovis strains originated from PTB patients whereas one was isolated from a TBLN patient. Occupational risk and the widespread consumption of raw animal products were identified as potential sources of M. bovis infection in humans, and the isolation of M. bovis from PTB patients suggests the possibility of human-to-human transmission, particularly in patients with no known contact history with animals.ConclusionThe detected proportion of culture positive cases of 2.4% being M. bovis from this region was higher zTB rate than previously reported for the general population of Ethiopia. Patients with M. bovis infection are more likely to get less efficient TB treatment because M. bovis is inherently resistant to pyrazinamide. MTBC species identification should be performed where M. bovis is common in cattle, especially in patients who have a history of recurrence or treatment failure