Purpose. Cryptosporidiosis, caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Cryptosporidium, is a zoonotic disease that affects young animals and humans. The study was conducted from October 2020 to May 2021, with the objectives of estimating the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in calves and assessing the associated risk factors in Nekemte town, Ethiopia. Methods. A cross-sectional study was adopted during the study period. Initially, 35 dairy farms were selected using a systematic study approach from which a total of 384 calves under the age of 12 months (75 calves from intensive, 51 from semi-intensive, and 258 from extensive dairy farms) were selected purposively for fecal sample collection. Fecal samples were collected directly from the rectum of each calf and tested for Cryptosporidium oocysts using Sheather’s flotation and a modified Ziehl–Neelsen staining procedure. The data were analyzed using STATA statistical software version 13. Results. Cryptosporidium infection was found in 53 of the 384 calves investigated, with an overall prevalence of 13.8% (95% CI = 8.1–17.6). Logistic regression analysis on the risk factors showed that types of farm, age, body condition scores, fecal consistency, types of feed, source of water, and farm hygiene were found to have a statistically significant influence on the shedding of Cryptosporidium oocysts by the calves ( p < 0.05 ). Calves under the age of six months had a higher likelihood (OR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.0–4.2, p < 0.001 ) of shedding the oocysts than the calves of 6 to 12 months of age. It was also confirmed that calves with poor body condition scores had a higher likelihood (OR = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.2–3.7, p = 0.024 ) of shedding the Cryptosporidium oocysts than other ones. The likelihood of shedding a Cryptosporidium oocyst by the diarrheic calves was higher than by the nondiarrheic ones (OR = 3.1, p < 0.001 ). The infection was 2.6 times highest (16.8%, 31/185, 95% CI = 14.5–19.1, OR = 2.6, p = 0.028 ) in calves feeding on grass alone, followed by milk and grass (15%) and milk (4.2%). Similarly, it was 2.2 times higher (18.5%, OR = 2.2, and p = 0.002 ) in calves drinking river water than in calves drinking tap water. Moreover, calves kept under poor hygiene were more likely to shed Cryptosporidium oocysts (OR = 2.8, p = 0.001 ) than calves kept under good hygiene. Conclusion. In conclusion, cryptosporidiosis is one of the health problems of calves in and around Nekemte town, East Wollega zone. Our findings confirmed that risk factors such as types of farm, age, body condition scores, fecal consistency, types of feed, water source, and farm hygienic status were found to have a significant effect on the occurrence of Cryptosporidium infection in the calves. While the molecular-based study is required to be carried out aiming at species identification and the epidemiology of the parasite, particular attention should be paid to the control of the disease in the study area.

COVID-19, caused by a newly discovered strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), has had a significant impact on many sectors at the global, regional, and national levels, including the livestock sector. Study Methods: A questionnaire survey and observational study were carried out from September 2020 to November 2020 with the aim of assessing the impacts of COVID 19 on livestock farming practices, market chain, consumption of animal products, and animal health care services in selected districts of East Wollega zone. Small scale farmers, abattoir workers, consumers, and private sectors involved in the production, processing, and distribution of livestock products, and veterinarians were purposively selected for this study. Based on the survey, 365 (91.25%) respondents agreed as the pandemic was the major challenge to livestock farming practices. The assessment shows that COVID 19 created worst 270 (67.5%) and high impact 75 (18.75%). The major reasons mentioned were measures taken by the government such as lockdown, economic decline, low number of manpower due to calls to stay at home, and social distance. Observational studies indicated that dairy shops, meat shops, and local abattoirs, hotels, and restaurants were totally/partially closed, especially during the first 6 months of the pandemic. The average monthly income from livestock and their products showed about 60.93% shortfalls (from 1,130,500 birr to 688,800 birr). Regarding consumer perception, there was low demand for livestock products mainly due to the perceived disease risk. The most important animal health constraints during this pandemic were unusual preventive practices such as lack of vaccination and deworming, scarcity of drugs at the veterinary clinic, low number of veterinarians and inability to cover the cost of drugs and personnel. The present study suggests that the pandemic's impact on the livestock production, product supply chain and animal health services might be continue, which will have a significant effect on the sustainability of livestock production systems and the contribution of livestock subsectors on the household and national economy and global food security. It is therefore, essential that the government and other concerned bodies should give attention to the livestock sector to mitigate the impacts of the disease.

Trypanosomosis is a protozoan disease, mostly transmitted by the tsetse fly, Glossina species, which causes severe disease of livestock in Ethiopia. The disease is also widespread across the globe especially in sub-Saharan African states. A cross-sectional study with the objectives of determining the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis and assess the apparent densities of the disease vectors was conducted from October 2019 to July 2020 G.C in Jima Arjo district, east Wollega zone, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia. A parasitological study using conventional buffy coat technique was employed for the determination of prevalence of trypanosomosis and species was identified by Giemsa stain technique, while baited traps were used for the vector survey. The results of parasitological study revealed that the overall prevalence was 36 (8.2%) at 95% CI. From the total trypanosome positive animals 22 (5.0%), 8 (1.82%) and 6 (1.36%) of them harbor T. congolense, T. vivax, and T. brucei, respectively. Relatively higher prevalence (10.91%) was seen in animals with poor body condition than those with medium (7.38%) and good (5.55%), body condition though it is not statistically significant ( P > 0.05 ). Higher infection rate was observed in male 26 (12.26%) than female 10 (4.39%) due to male cattle more exposed to the tsetse fly area or early released from home for drought reason. Out of the total positive animals, only 12 of them were anemic on buffy coat test of sampled blood. This justifies that animal could be positive for trypanosomosis without showing clinical sign of anemia which is the dominant sign in this disease. A total of 2185 vectors trypanosomes were collected among which 1,569 were tsetse flies and 616 were other biting flies. The density of Glossina species was 15.1 fly/trap/day. Glossina morsitans submorsitans and G. tachnoides were the two dominant species of tsetse flies recorded from the area. The present study indicated that tsetse and non-tsetse fly-borne trypanosomosis is a leading bottle neck for production and health of animals in Jima Arjo districts and similar case was found throughout the country which necessitates a coordinated vector and parasite control in order to alleviate the problem of the disease.

An analytical cross-sectional study was performed between November 2015 and April 2016 at Hawa Galan woreda, Kelem Wollega Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia, to estimate the proportion of cattle with trypanosomosis and to evaluate the elements associated with the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis. A haemoparasitological examination of the Buffy coat method was implemented to determine the proportion of trypanosomosis-positive cattle. A study population of 428 bovines was randomly selected from three peasant associations (PAs) and tested for the presence of the disease. Findings of the laboratory results indicate that among all animals tested at the study time, 26 (6%) animals were positive for the disease. Among the positive results, the proportion of trypanosome species was Trypanosoma congolense 18 (69.3%) and Trypanosoma vivax 8 (30.7%). The prevalence at the selected PAs was 12.5%, 3.8%, and 3% for Lemlem, Madawalkituma, and Ifajiru, respectively. From this finding, the relationship has a statistically significant variation ( P  < 0.05) among peasant associations and body condition state, and the proportion was significantly greater ( P  < 0.05) in animals categorized under poor body condition score. The relationships between age and sex of cattle show no statistically significant variation among them ( P  > 0.05). This study indicates that the proportion of trypanosomosis was greater in anemic (PCV<24%) cattle than nonanemic (PCV≥24%). Therefore, based on this finding, the proportion of bovine trypanosomosis is evident that can cause a major effect on the health of cattle in the study population in the study area. So, effective control methods could be applied to decrease the disease and its related economic loss.