Prevalence of Thermophilic Campylobacter species in carcasses from sheep and goats in an abattoir in Debre Zeit area, Ethiopia

Background: Thermophilic Campylobacter spp. namely, Campylobacter jejuni and coli cause acute diarrheal diseases in humans worldwide; although these species are known to occur in the intestinal tract of a wide variety of domestic and wild animals. Objective: Little is known about the presence of these bacteria in various food animals as possible sources of infection to humans in Ethiopia. Therefore this study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of thermophilic Campylobacter species in sheep and goat carcasses at a private export abattoir in Debre-Zeit, Ethiopia.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on apparently healthy sheep and goat slaughtered at a private export abattoir in Debre-Zeit, from October 2007 to March 2008. Sheep carcasses (mutton) (n=218) and goat carcasses (n=180) were analyzed for Campylobacter spp. Swabs were taken from four different sites on the carcasses (crutch, abdomen, thorax and breast) at different stages of slaughtering processes (before evisceration, after evisceration and after washing). Results: Campylobacter spp were isolated from 40 (10.1%) out of 398 carcasses examined. There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of isolation of Campylobacter species in different swabbing sites. Of the 40 thermophilic campylobacter isolates, C. jejuni and C. coli accounted for 29 (72.5%) and 11 (27.5%), respectively. Conclusions: The results of this study revealed the presence of campylobacter in sheep and goat carcasses, indicatingpossible risks of infection to people through the consumption of raw/under-cooked meat. Coordinated actions are needed to reduce or eliminate the risks posed by this organism at various stages of slaughtering process

Detection and determination of Oxytetracycline and Penicillin G antibiotic residue levels in bovine bulk milk from Nazareth dairy farms, Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2007 and May 2008 to detect and determine oxytetracycline and penicillin G residue levels in bulk milk of cows in Nazareth dairy farms. A total of 400 bulk milk samples were randomly collected. All samples were qualitatively screened for antibiotic residues by Delvotest SP assay. Questionnaire survey was carried out by personal interviews with some of the dairy farm owners in Delvotest positive farms (cases) and Delvotest negative farms (controls) to identify various risk factors for the occurrence of antibiotic residue in milk. Farm management practices, disease conditions and treatment factors have been identified as the main risk factors. Concentration of Oxytetracycline and Penicillin G in the positive samples was determined by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Out of 400 samples analyzed for antibiotic residue, 48 (12 %) milk samples were positive for antibiotic residues. The mean residue level of oxytetracycline was 125.25μg/l and that of penicillin G was 4.52 μg/l. Concentrations of oxytetracycline and penicillin G in all samples were between ranges of 45 -192 μg/l and 0-28 μg/l, respectively. The antibiotic residue positive samples which showed residues of oxytetracycline above the WTO/FAO/ CAC established maximum residue limit of 100μg/l were 40 (83.33%). For penicillin G, the number of samples above the maximum residue limit of 4μg/l, were 8 (16.66%). In conclusion, this study revealed that oxytetracycline and penicillin G were imprudently used in dairy farms of the study area.Keywords: Delvotest SP, High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Milk, Oxytetracycline, Penicillin G, Residu

Assessment of awareness on food borne zoonosis and its relation with Veterinary Public Health Services in and around Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

A survey qualitative survey was conducted to assess the awareness on food borne zoonosis and its relation with Veterinary Public Health Services in Addis Ababa and its surrounding districts from November 2008 to May 2009. Structured questionnaire was used in the study. Questionnaires were distributed to 384 individuals, of which 196 were elementary and high school students, and 196 were Graduates. Factors like education level, information source and profession were considered for possible explanation of the results. The use of inspected animal products is found statistically different (P<0.05) among health and non health professionals while no difference is seen between students and graduates. The majority (85.42%) of the students get their information from other information sources like their families in the form of advice and 67.71% of health professionals get their information from their medical schools. The most frequently mentioned zoonotic diseases were Rabies 384(100 %), followed by Anthrax 362(94.27%), Teniasis 342 (89.06%), Tuberculosis 340 (88.54%) and Brucellosis 190(49.48%) and 120(31.25%) mentioned other infectious diseases of zoonotic importance. The importance of veterinary public health in the overall public health institutions was assessed by looking at the responses to questions and shown that yet the public health institutions don’t see the need of having veterinarians in the public health. In conclusion this study demonstrated that the awareness and use of inspected and packed animal products is relatively low that expose the people to risk of food borne pathogens and the awareness of health institutes on the importance of veterinary public health service is relatively low. The authors would like to recommend to the government and concerned bodies to raise the awareness of the public using the appropriate communication media, and to strengthen the contribution of public health veterinarians in the public health services for better community health

Applied research on health extension workers using ehealth to strengthen equitable systems in Southern Ethiopia health

The project successfully established an eHealth system in Southern Ethiopia. It provided training for and engaging of health extension workers (HEWs), supervisors, Health Management Information System (HMIS) focal persons, and policy makers. It was conducted in Sidama and Gedeo zones in Southern Ethiopia, with Sidama zone being the intervention zone, and Gedeo the control zone. Over 60 female health extension workers were trained. Data can be collected in real-time and is accessible throughout all levels of the health system. This has created stronger links with policy makers for action. Over 200,000 rural women and men benefit from improved health services

Evaluation of Two Estrus Synchronization Protocols in Dairy Cattle at North Shoa Zone Ethiopia

This study was initiated to change the hesitation of the farmer on the effectiveness of estrus synchronization under their (Ethiopian small holder) livestock management system using two synchronization protocols. Non-pregnant animals with normal reproductive tract and that fulfilled the preconditions for estrus synchronization were considered for treatment & assigned into two synchronization protocols (single PGF2α injection; and double PGF2α injection). Among 94 (27 heifer and 67 cows) synchronized cows using one and two injections of PGF2α protocols 26 heifers and 63 cows (89/94.7%) were exhibited estrus by visual observation and rectal palpation the remaining 5 (5.3%) did not illustrate heat. The overall pregnancy was 59.6 % with overall birth 94.3 %. High pregnancy was obtained in the double injection of PGF2α treatment group (63.1 %) than animals treated with one shot protocol 55.8 % there were statistically significant difference between treatments (p<0.05). Higher pregnancy was obtained from cross breed animals than local breeds. More over most of the animals come to estrus greater than 96 hrs. There was also significant difference between technicians on detecting the CL and conception. The estrus response, conception rate, pregnancy rate and calving rate was higher in both protocols so producers or farmers can use either the two protocols to achieve remarkable result but tight follow-ups and more resources are need to be exploited at farmer level

Duration of Supplemental Oxygen Requirement and Predictors in Severe COVID-19 Patients in Ethiopia: A Survival Analysis

BACKGROUND፡ With the rising number of new cases of COVID-19, understanding the oxygen requirement of severe patients assists in identifying at risk groups and in making an informed decision on building hospitals capacity in terms of oxygen facility arrangement. Therefore, the study aimed to estimate time to getting off supplemental oxygen therapy and identify predictors among COVID-19 patients admitted to Millennium COVID-19 Care Center in Ethiopia.METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted among 244 consecutively admitted COVID-19 patients from July to September, 2020. Kaplan Meier plots, median survival times and Log-rank test were used to describe the data and compare survival distribution between groups. Cox proportional hazard survival model was used to identify determinants of time to getting off supplemental oxygen therapy, where hazard ratio (HR), Pvalue and 95%CI for HR were used for testing significance and interpretation of results.RESULTS: Median time to getting off supplemental oxygen therapy among the studied population was 6 days (IQR,4.3-20.0). Factors that affect time to getting off supplemental oxygen therapy were age group (AHR=0.52,95%CI=0.32,0.84, pvalue=0.008 for ≥70 years) and shortness of breath (AHR=0.71,95%CI=0.52,0.96, p-value=0.026).CONCLUSION: Average duration of supplemental oxygen therapy requirement among COVID-19 patients was 6 days and being 70 years and older and having shortness of breath were found to be associated with prolonged duration of supplemental oxygen therapy requirement. This result can be used as a guide in planning institutional resource allocation and patient management to provide a well-equipped care to prevent complications and death from the disease