No abstract

A cross-sectional study was carried out from April 2015 to June 2016 to estimate the status of bovine tuberculosis (BTB), assessment of community's current knowledge, and zoonotic importance on this disease in Borana zone, southern Ethiopia. In this study, comparative intradermal tuberculin (CIDT) test, structured questionnaires, and retrospective data were used, while the result indicated 3.8% prevalence at individual animal level with 5.6% (31/554) of doubtful reactors. Among related risk factors included, old animals were significantly infected by BTB than young one (χ = 32.005, P = 0.001). Parity number again showed significant difference (χ = 29.163, P = 0.001) where animals with many parity were more reactive to conducted test than few parity numbers. Animals born in the breeding center managed under semi-intensive production system were more infected (χ = 10.795, P = 0.029) than those brought from outside of the center. Questionnaire survey in this study indicated that out of 130 interviewed respondents, only 30% pastoralists knew what BTB mean; whereas the level of individual knowledge from interviewed showed about 72.3% of respondents had poor understanding of BTB and only about 11.5% of them knew its zoonotic importance. Meat eating habit of communities in the area were culturally inhabited to eat cooked meat and only 12.3% (16/130) of respondents gave response on habit of eating both raw and cooked meat. Milk drinking habit of pastoralist in the area showed about 79.2% drunk raw milk and the rest 20.8% used both raw and boiled milk. A retrospective data from Yabello Hospital indicated that current prevalence of human TB as 38.79% and showing the disease was highly increasing from year to year in the study area. This implies a great importance of human tuberculosis and its future concern in Borana zone. From this, there should be detail awareness of communities on BTB, its zoonotic importance, and the need of further investigation to develop control and prevention strategies according to the pastoral settings.

A pot experiment was conducted at Arba Minch, Ethiopia to study the effects of urine on soil properties and yield of maize in natural settings. The pot treatments consisted of 500, 800, 1,000 and 1,200 ml of neat human urine collected from a UDDT (Urine Diversion Dry Toilet) added at different portions and control. The results showed that the response of the maize for most of the variables was very well expressed or significantly different at the application rate of 500 ml of urine; however, there was no significant difference between the 500 ml and the rest of the application. A significant increase in height, diameter, and length of leaf of maize was found in the urine treated soils.An improvement in soil phosphate chemical properties was noticed with increasing addition of urine; however, there was no significant increase in the ammonium nitrogen content and pH. The salinity of treated soil significantly increased at the bottom of the pot when compared with the control. In order to limit the increase in salinity of the soil and to get optimum maize growth in natural conditions, 500 ml urine addition per maize is recommended. The findings encourage the use of urine as fertilizer and a possible sink for UDDT waste.

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine sero prevalence of brucellosis, community awareness about zoonotic importance of the disease and its transmission to goat owners in Liban district of Guji zone Oromia regional state, southern Ethiopia. Study was conducted on 413 goats that are managed under pastoral production system. Sera samples were serially tested using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT). Positive sera samples were retested by complement fixation test (CFT). Questionnaire survey was administered to 153 goat owners to assess community awareness. Collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 15 software. The study showed that goat brucellosis is a moderately distributed with overall sero-prevalence of 6.2% in Liban district. All 153 (100%) respondents in the area recognized abortion but 136 (88.9%) of the respondents have no awareness about zoonotic importance of brucellosis. The current study has determined women and children to be the risky group with higher probability of being infected with brucellosis from goats relative to men as result of close contact they have with goats during parturition, handling of cases like aborted foetus and retained placenta bare handed, milking and caring after goats. Therefore, awareness creation to the community and elimination of positive reactors are recommended to control brucellosis in the area.

Cross sectional study was conducted on Equine gastro intestinal Strongylosis and Fasciolosis in Goba district ofBale zone Oromia reginal state, Ethiopia. Study involving a total of 384 (218 Horses, 107 Donkeys and 59 Mules) samples were conducted. The study revealed that Gastrointestinal Strongylosis and Fasciolosis are the main problem of equines in the district affecting the wellbeing of horses, mules and donkeys with over all prevalence of 83.3% and 11.98%, respectively. The occurrence of equine Gastrointestinal Strongylosis and Fasciolosis in this study suggests the importance of the problem in the study area and the overall effect on drought power. There were statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) between (male VS female) and species of equines with regard to Equine Strongylosis. However, there was no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) with regard to Equine Fasciolosis between (male VS female) and species of equines. There were no statistically significant differences among equine species, age groups (P > 0.05) in prevalence of Equine Fasciolosis. The result of this study disclosed that equine Fasciolosis is main problem of parasitic diseases next to Strongylosis in study area. However, since Equine receive less attention in terms of feeding, health and management cares in study area, it affecting the wellbeing of horses, mules and donkeys. Therefore, due emphasis should be given particularly in prevention and control of the parasites in Equine.