Prevalence and Causes of Selected Respiratory Infections in Indigenous Gumuz Sheep in Metema District, Northwest Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2008 to May 2009 to determine the prevalence and causes of respiratory infections in indigenous Gumuz sheep in Metema district, northwest Ethiopia. Feacal samples, nasal swabs and serum samples were collected from a total of 384 sheep of both sex and all age groups. Modified Berman technique, bacteriological methods and competitive-ELISA were used for the identification of lungworms, pasteurella species and Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), respectively. The overall prevalence of respiratory infections was 40.6% (95%CI; 36-46%). The prevalence difference between the study villages was significant (P<0.05). Infection rate of 15.1% (95%CI; 12-19%) for lungworms, 27.6% (95%CI; 23-32%) for pasteurellosis and 26.3% (95%CI; 22-31%) for PPR was reported. Concurrent infection rate was 13.8% for lung worm and pasteurella species, 9.4% for lung worm species and PPR, 14.1% for pasteurella species and PPR and 8.9% for lung worm, pasteurella and PPR infections. This study revealed concurrent infections of lungworms, pasteurella species and PPR responsible for the occurrence of respiratory disease in indigenous Gumuz sheep. Regular vaccinations against ovine pasteurellosis and PPR and strategic deworming against lungworms must be considered for the control of these respiratory infections

Reducing Calf Mortality in Ethiopia

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Disease and death of young livestock cause financial and production difficulties to farmers around the world. High rates of disease and death occur in various production systems in Ethiopia, hampering livestock production, reducing incomes, and damaging livelihoods. Over the last 10 years, studies carried out in Ethiopia have reported death and disease incidence rates in young livestock as high as 31% and 67%, respectively. Diarrhea and respiratory infections are the two leading causes of disease and death in calves in all production systems. In this paper, we describe findings from the experience of the Young Stock Mortality Reduction Consortium. This unique group produced important information on the main causes of disease and death in Ethiopia and created activities for small-scale farmers to address these problems. We found that several diseases caused diarrhea and respiratory infections in young calves in Ethiopia. Improving farmer knowledge and behaviors with respect to basic livestock management led to considerable reductions in young livestock disease and death and has the potential to help improve livestock productivity and human livelihoods in Ethiopia. ABSTRACT: Morbidity and mortality of young stock present economic and production challenges to livestock producers globally. In Ethiopia, calf morbidity and mortality rates, particularly due to diarrhea and respiratory disease, are high, limiting production, incomes, and the ability of farmers to improve their livelihoods. In this paper, we present findings from the combined experience of the Young Stock Mortality Reduction Consortium, which conducted epidemiological and intervention testing in calves across three production systems. This innovative alliance identified Cryptosporidium parvum and E. Coli K99 as the most common causes of diarrhea in pastoral and peri-urban calves; Strongyloides spp. as the most common fecal parasite in mixed crop–livestock and peri-urban calves; and bovine adenovirus, parainfluenza virus-3, and bovine respiratory syncytial virus as the most common respiratory pathogens in peri-urban calves. Furthermore, by improving producer knowledge with respect to fundamental livestock husbandry, feeding, housing, and neonatal care practices, calf mortality risk across production systems was reduced by 31.4 to 71.4% compared to baseline (between 10.5 and 32.1%), whereas risk of diarrhea was reduced by 52.6–75.3% (baseline between 11.4 and 30.4%) and risk of respiratory disease was reduced by 23.6–80.8% (baseline between 3.3 and 16.3%). These findings have informed scaling strategies and can potentially contribute to improved livestock productivity and human livelihoods in Ethiopia

Prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis and assessment of knowledge and practices of livestock owners in the control of Trypanosomosis in Assosa District of Benishangul Gumuz Regional State, Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2013 to February 2014 to estimate the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis and identify species of trypanosomes infecting cattle. Besides, attempt was made to assess the knowledge and practice of the livestock owners in Assosa district of Benishangul Gumuz Regional State, Ethiopia. A total of 310 blood samples were collected from randomly selected cattle. Packed cell volume (PCV) was measured and samples were examined for the presence of trypanosomes using the buffy coat technique. In this study bovine trypanosomes were detected in 22.9% of the blood samples. The most common trypanosome species identified were T. congolense 13.2% (41/310) followed by T. brucei 3.2% (10/310), T. vivax 2.9% (9/310), mixed infections of T. vivax and T. congolense 1.6% (5/310), T. congolense and T. brucei 1.29% (4/310) and T. brucei and T. vivax 0.64 (2/310). There were no statistically significant prevalence differences (p > 0.05) between sexes, ages category and management systems. However, prevalence difference was noted between poor and good body condition categories (p < 0.05). Animals with poor body condition were found 2.11 times more likely of getting trypanosome infection (OR=2.11, 95% CI, p=0.027) than animals in good body condition. The mean PCV values recorded were 23.3% in parasitaemic and 25.1% in aparasitaemic animals with a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). A questionnaire survey was conducted for the assessment of knowledge of farmers on control and prevention of bovine trypanosomosis provided important information on farmer’s knowledge of bovine trypanosomosis and practices in control and prevention measures. In this study few livestock owners know the vector (tsetse) association with the disease. In conclusion, this study confirmed that trypanosomes are still a threat to cattle in the study area. Therefore, it is recommended that an integrated prevention and control program have to be designed and implemented to minimize their impacts on livestock production.Keywords: Assosa; Cattle; Knowledge assessment; Trypanosomosis; Practices, Prevalenc

The magnitude of calf morbidity and mortality and risk factors in smallholder farms across livestock production systems in central Ethiopia

BackgroundCalf morbidity and mortality are major constraints in Ethiopian cattle production that severely limit available replacement stock. Calf morbidity and mortality reports in Ethiopia mostly focus on market-oriented dairy production systems. A cross-sectional study was undertaken in central Ethiopia with the objectives of estimating the magnitude of calf morbidity and mortality across three production systems and contributing risk factors.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted at pastoral, mixed-crop livestock, and dairy farms in central Ethiopia from February 2019 to June 2019 to collect 1-year retrospective and cross-sectional data on calf morbidity and mortality from smallholder farmers using a structured questionnaire.ResultsA total of 293 smallholder farmers were involved in the study. Among the households interviewed, 83% of respondents encountered feed shortages in the year prior to this study. The overall annual calf morbidity prevalence and mortality rate were 6.49% (95% CI: 4.87-8.44) and 10% (95% CI: 8.28-11.93), respectively. Morbidity was higher in Dalocha and Sululta districts in mixed crop-livestock and peri-urban production systems, respectively. Logistic regression analysis of potential risk factors indicated that calf morbidity was associated with the calf and dam body condition score (BCS). Calves with BCS of 3 (medium) were less likely to be morbid (odds ratio [OR]: 0.20 [95% CI: 0.07-0.56]) than calves with BCS of 1 (emaciated), and calves born from dams with a body condition score of 2 (thin) were also at lower risk (OR: 0.25 [95% CI: 0.07-0.95]) than calves born from emaciated dams. The odds of calf mortality in Awash Fentale district were higher (OR: 6.19 [95% CI: 2.09-18.32]) compared to Sululta district.ConclusionsThe study results revealed that the production system and management affect the magnitude of calf morbidity and mortality. We recommend improving water and feed access and resources for livestock owners to reduce calf morbidity and mortality

Prevalence of bovine abortion, calf mortality, and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) persistently infected calves among pastoral, peri-urban, and mixed-crop livestock farms in central and Northwest Ethiopia

BackgroundBovine Viral Diarrhea virus (BVDV) is one of important diseases of cattle worldwide causing economic losses to the cattle industry primarily due to increased premature culling and decreased reproductive performance. The virus can cross the placenta during early pregnancy and result in the birth of persistently infected (PI) calves that are efficient transmitters of BVDV and serving as the primary reservoirs for BVDV. Relatively few studies have focused on understanding BVDV seroprevalence, virus detection, genotyping and its distribution in Africa. Most BVDV research in Ethiopia has involved serologic surveys in adult cattle, rather than the identification of PI calves, despite their role in viral shedding and recurring infections. A cross-sectional study was undertaken in three different livestock production systems of Ethiopia with the objective to estimate the prevalence of bovine abortion, calf mortality, and BVDV persistently infected calves.ResultsEar notch samples (882) collected from calves in 349 households were tested for BVDV antigen using antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ACE). All samples tested were negative for BVDV antigen. The overall animal level crude abortion and calf mortality prevalence were 4.0% (95% CI: 2.9-5.2) and 9.2% (95% CI: 7.7-11.0) respectively. The lower BVDV PI prevalence may be due to a lower effective contact rate between cattle reared in small-scale extensive production systems in Ethiopia.ConclusionsThis is the first report of BVDV Ag test in Ethiopia and no PI was detected in calves in the study areas. Since BVDV is a disease of great economic importance, this study finding must be interpreted with care since absence of evidence is not evidence of absence and even a single BVDV infected animal can serve as source of infection and contribute to the persistent spread of the virus. Greater attention needs to be given to screening for PI animals through testing large number of animals and culling positive animals. Hence, future research should focus on regions and production systems with high BVDV seroprevalence followed by antigen ELISA or BVDV real-time PCR to detect persistently infected and acutely viremic animals

Additional file 1: of Sero-prevalence, risk factors and distribution of sheep and goat pox in Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Dataset for sheep and goat pox. (XLSX 31 kb