A cross sectional study was conducted from October, 2015 up to March, 2016 in Jimma town, Oromia Regional State of South West Ethiopia, with the objective of determining the prevalence of intestinal nematode parasites of equines and the effect of putative risk factors on the rate of helminth parasite infections. A total of 400 Equines; donkeys (n=29), horses (n=317) and mules (n=54) were included in the study. Out of 400 faecal samples examined, three species of nematode eggs were identifi ed during the study period. Coprological examination conducted using fl otation technique revealed an overall point prevalence of 72.25%. The most common nematodes encountered in order of their predominance were, Strongyles (63.25%), Parascaris equorum (16.5%), Oxyuris equi (4.25%), and mixed infection was found to be (10.75%). The results of statistical analysis of different risk factors with risk of intestinal nematode infection indicates a signifi cant difference (P<0.05) between the species of equine and strongyle infection rate, body condition scores with Strongyle and Parascaris equorum infection rate. But species of the animal was not signifi cantly associated with Parascaris equorum (P<0.05). The infection rate of Oxyuris equi was not signifi cantly associated with body condition score, age and species of equines (P> 0.05 for all variables). Statistical analysis of the result also showed no signifi cant difference (p>0.05) in the prevalence of intestinal nematodes with sex of the animal, although it was relatively higher in male than female individuals. Therefore, the present study showed that intestinal nematodes are an important health problem in the area affecting the wellbeing and productivity of the equines.

Mycobacterium bovis is an intracellular, non-motile, facultative, weakly Grampositive acid-fast bacillus which belongs to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. The pathogen affects all age groups of susceptible hosts of domestic, wild animals and human. In cattle, Bovine tuberculosis is one of the endemic chronic diseases of cattle that have long been recorded in Ethiopia. The disease has been reported from several parts of the country mainly based on tuberculin tests and abattoir inspections. Studies undertaken in several parts of the country have indicated that, the individual animal and the herd level prevalence rate of Bovine tuberculosis is ranging from 0.8% to 42.5% and from 7.02% to 79.3% respectively. Whereas the prevalence of the disease reported from different slaughterhouses of the country varies from 1.5% to 24.7%. Mycobaterium Bovis was also confirmed to be a cause of human infections in the country. However, very little information on the extent of Mycobaterium Bovis either as an animal or human health problem are available and the current actual prevalence rate of Bovine tuberculosis at a national level is yet unknown. No infection due to Mycobaterium Bovis was reported in Ethiopia wildlife population so far. In Ethiopia, cattle breeds, age, sex, body condition score and herd size, management condition, geographical origin, consumption of raw milk and close contact to livestock are most commonly identified risk factors for spread of Mycobaterium Bovis. Although, the disease represents a potential health hazard to all susceptible hosts, the economic effects of the disease are not well studied. With the exception of few attempts like condemnation of carcass and organs during meat inspection, culling of infected animals in some government owned farms and pasteurization of milk, effective disease control strategies do not yet established in our country.

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