A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2009 to August 2010 with the objective of determining calf morbidity and mortality rates, to investigate the potential risk factors for mortality and morbidity and to determine the type and prevalence of major diseases of crossbred calves in Bahir Dar Zuria and Gozamen districts of Amhara Region. A total of 148 respondents engaged in small holder crossbred dairying were interviewed using a structured questionnaire survey about their calf management practices and major calf health problems encountered. About 396 crossbred calves were considered for this study. The overall magnitude of morbidity and mortality rates of crossbred calves were 58.4% and 30.7%, respectively. Higher mortality of crossbred calves was found in Gozamen district (39.6 %) than in Bahir Dar Zuria district (29.9 %). The major calf diseases found were diarrhea (21.4%), pneumonia (18.6%), septicemic conditions (12.4%) and navel ill (8.1%) and miscellaneous cases (39.5%). Risk factors such as study location, blood level, age, colostrum feeding and time of colostrum feeding were found to have statistically significant (p < 0.05) effects on crossbred calf mortality rate in both districts. Exotic genetic influence, age, colostrum feeding and time of colostrum feeding were also the major risk factors found statistically significant (p < 0.05) to affect calf morbidity. In conclusion, the magnitude of calf morbidity and mortality rates found in this study were much higher than economically tolerable level and could affect the productivity of the dairy farms through mainly decreasing the availability of replacement stock. It is therefore, suggested that implementation of improved calf management practices and optimization of more adaptable blood level of crossbred cattle in the study areas would significantly reduce calf mortality and morbidity.

Background: A longitudinal prospective study was conducted from October 2017 to April 2018 on calf diarrhea and coccidiosis in dairy farms in Bahir Dar, North West Ethiopia with the objectives of determining the incidence of calf diarrhea and calf coccidiosis from diarrheic calves, assessing the major risk factors associated with calf diarrhea and coccidiosis and identifying the existing Eimeria species. A total of 237 calves, 86 calves from 52 smallholder dairy farms and 151 calves from 8 large dairy farms, were used for this study. Fresh fecal samples were collected from 86 diarrheic calves for identification of Eimeria species. Results: Overall incidences of calf diarrhea and coccidiosis found in this study were 33.5 and 20.1%, respectively. In total, 19 potential risk factors were investigated for their association with calf diarrhea and coccidiosis from diarrheic calves using Cox regression. Age of calf (HR = 2.057, P = .002), body condition (HR = 1.802, P < .001), house condition (HR = 2.072, P = .004) and age at first colostrum feeding time (HR = 2.107, P = .002) were found significantly (P < 0.05) associated with the risk of diarrhea by multivariate Cox regression. Among the risk factors tested, age (HR = 13.36, P < .001) and sex of calves (HR = 3.500, P = .020) were found significantly (P < 0.05) associated with coccidiosis by multivariate Cox regression. A total of nine Eimeria species were identified. E. bovis (28.6%), E. zuernii (19.0%) and E. auburnensis (14.3%) were the most common Eimeria species encountered. Conclusion: The incidence of calf diarrhea and coccidiosis was high in the dairy herds in North West Ethiopia. Therefore, sound dairy calf management practices are needed to mitigate risk factors for calf diarrhea and coccidiosis with a view to reducing the incidence of calf diarrhea and coccidiosis in Ethiopian dairy farms.

A cross sectional study was carried out from October 2008 to April 2009 to determine the sero-prevalence of brucellosis in small ruminants in and around Bahir Dar, northwest Ethiopia. The sampling method used was purposive sampling technique for districts and simple random for the study animals. A total of 500 serum samples (270 from sheep and 230 from goats) were collected from extensive management system with no history of vaccination. All serum samples were initially screened by Rose-Bengal-Plate Test (RBPT) and positive reactors to RBPT (n=6) were further tested by complement fixation test (CFT) for confirmation. Accordingly, the overall prevalence of brucellosis in small ruminants was 0.4 % (2/500). Rose Bengal Plate Test detected 6 (1.2%) of the samples as seropositive. Up on further testing by CFT only 2 (0.4%) were positive which were adult goats. The seroprevalence of brucellosis was found higher in females (0.4%) than males (0%). Although seropositive animals are low in number, it was found out that animals more than 1 year of age were more affected than others. The result of the present study revealed that the seroprevalence of small ruminant brucellosis in the study area was very low. However, the existence of the disease in the study area has possible risk of spread in the future. Accordingly, elimination of positive seroreactors has been recommended to control the spread of brucellosis in these species of animals.

A cross sectional study aimed at determining the prevalence and type of common Fasciola species in cattle was conducted in and around Bahir Dar from November 2008-March 2009. The study was based on post-mortem inspection of livers of slaughtered animals at Bahir Dar municipality abattoir and coprological examination using sedimentation technique on fecal samples collected from animals of Bahir Dar and surrounding areas. Out of 413 livers inspected, 165 (39.95%) were positive for Fasciola species. F. hepatica was found to be the most prevalent species in cattle of the study area (89.70%). About 3.63% were positive for F. gigantica and 6.67% were harboring mixed infections. Likewise, out of 384 fecal samples examined 141 (36.72) were positive for the presence of Fasciola eggs. Risk factors such as locality, body condition and sex didn't show any effect on the prevalence of infections (P>0.05). However, breed and age group revealed significant disparity (P<0.05) as greater magnitude of infections were detected in exotic breed and young age group, respectively. In view of the current result, fasciolosis could be considered as a major problem in Bahir Dar and surrounding areas as the ecological factors and management conditions are suitable both for the snail intermediate host and the parasite to be maintained. Strategic treatments need to be implemented at appropriate timing with the aim of reducing worm burden from infected animals and preclude pasture contamination. Integrated control approaches involving livestock owners has to be implemented in reducing the population and activity of snail intermediate hosts to enable maximization of long-term returns from such endemic areas.

Epizootic lymphangitis (EL) is one of the most important diseases of equines in Ethiopia, causing a significant economic loss in cart-horse and mule producers. A cross-sectional study was carried out between April and June 2017 in Bahir Dar city to estimate the prevalence of epizootic lymphangitis (EL) and its associated risk factors. Study locations and cart mule owners were selected purposively based on the availability of cart mules. Whereas cart mules were sampled using a simple random sampling technique by a lottery system. A total of 384 cart mules were considered for this study. Both clinical and microbiological examinations were employed to identify EL in-cart mules. Among 384 sampled cart mules, which were subjected to clinical and microbiological examination, 88 (22.9%, 95% CI= [18.7, 22.1]) were positive for EL. Cutaneous form 69 (78.4%, 95% CI= [69.8, 87.0]) was the commonest form of the disease followed by mixed infection 10 (11.4%, 95%CI= [4.7,17.9]), ocular 6 (6.8%, 95% CI= [1.5,12.1]) and pulmonary 3 (3.4%, 95% CI= [0.4, 7.2]). Most EL lesions were observed on forelimbs 24 (27.3%, 95% CI= [17.9, 36.5]), followed by chest and forelimb 18 (20.5%, 95% CI= [12.0, 28.9]), hind limbs 16 (18.2%, 95% CI=[10.1, 26.2]), chest 11 (12.5%, 95% CI= [5.6, 19.4]), and head and forelimbs 8 (9%, 95% CI= [3.1,15.1]). The association between location, sex, and body condition score with the occurrence of EL was examined using the chi-square test. However, none of the examined risk factors considered were significantly associated with EL (p>0.05). In conclusion, a higher prevalence of EL was recorded in Bahir Dar city which could substantially affect the health, productivity, and performance of cart mules. Further extensive mycological and epidemiological research on EL is suggested to develop evidence-based EL control and prevention measures in cart mules.