A study was made to determine the prevalence of camel trypanosomosis (surra) and its associated risk factors in Borena zone, southern Ethiopia during 2013-2014. A total of 2400 blood samples were collected and examined by the buffy coat and thin blood film laboratory methods, and data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software. The overall prevalence of camel trypanosomosis in the area was found to be 2.33 %. Prevalence was significantly different among the surveyed districts (P = 0.000), the pastoral associations (F = 6.408, P = 0.000), altitudinal divisions (P = 0.000), age groups (P = 0.034), and between animals possessing packed cell volume (PCV) values greater than 25 % and less than 25 % (P = 0.000); whereas, prevalence of the disease was not statistically significantly different between the sexes (P = 0.311) and among the body condition score groups (P = 0.739). The PCV of trypanosome positive and trypanosome negative camels differ significantly (P = 0.001), and prevalence of trypanosomosis was seen to be negatively correlated with packed cell volume (r = -0.069, P = 0.000) revealing the effect of camel trypanosomosis on anemia state of parasitized animals. In conclusion, camel trypanosomosis is a serious and economically important disease hampering camel production and productivity in southern Ethiopia. Further studies involving more sensitive molecular techniques to reveal the precise magnitude of the disease and to identify the vector species of the parasite are recommended.

A cross-sectional study by employing a questionnaire survey was conducted to determine the prevalence of major reproductive disorders in dairy cattle and its associated risk factors in and around Bale Robe town from November 2016 to April 2017. Out of 384 dairy cows which were under investigation, 254 (66.15%) had encountered at least one of the reproductive disorders. The major reproductive disorders recorded with high prevalence in the present study included mastitis (20.57%), repeat breeder (17.71%), retained fetal membrane (6.51%), uterine and vaginal prolapse (5.47%), and abortion (4.1%), whereas reproductive problems with lower incidence rate included dystocia, anestrus, hypocalcaemia, uterine discharge, and stillbirth accounting 3.91%, 1.82%, 1.30%, 1.04%, and 0.78%, respectively. The overall incidence of reproductive disorders in this study showed statistical significance ( p < 0.05 ) with respect to body condition, age of the animals, production system, and mating system. However, this finding indicated that occurrence of reproductive problems shows statistical insignificance compared to breed, parity, and hygiene of the farm. The prevalence of reproductive disorders in extensive management system (91.02%) was higher than intensive (64.58%) and semi-intensive (57.61%) management systems and also more in local breed (67.93%) than crossbreed (62.29%). However, the prevalence based on parity was higher in primiparous (71.05%) than pluriparous (64.07%) cows. In general, it is recommended that improvement in management system, proper selection of bull and appropriate timing of AI for breeding system, accurate heat detection, routine and periodical examination of cows, balanced feeding, and hygienic condition should be corrected to minimize the incidence of reproductive health disorders and associated risk factors in the study area.

Trypanosomosis is one of the major impediments to livestock development and agricultural production in Ethiopia. It is cyclically transmitted by tsetse flies but also mechanically tsetse flies and by other biting flies. A cross-sectional study was conducted to identify the density and diversity of vectors and also the prevalence of bovine trypanosomosis from October, 2014 to May, 2015. The study was conducted in four selected settlement areas of the Yayo district in the Illubabor zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Standard methods of sampling and identification were employed for both entomological and parasitological examination. Four species of the genus Glossina (Glossina morsitans submorsitans, Glossina pallidipes, Glossina tachinoides and Glossina fuscipes) and two genera of biting flies (Stomoxys and Tabanus) were caught and identified. The overall apparent density of flies caught was 1095 (9.78 flies per trap per day), of which 410 (3.7 flies per trap per day) was Glossina species. Out of a total 488 cattle examined, 19 (3.9%; 95% CI: 2.36%-6.1%) were found infected with trypanosomes. Three species were detected in the study area namely T. congolense 16(84.21%), T. vivax 2(10.53%) and T. brucei 1(5.26%). The prevalence of trypanosomosis was not significantly affected by all risk factors considered (p>0.05). Trypanosomosis significantly affected the status of anemia or packed cell volume (p<0.05). The mean PCV of parasitemic animals were significantly lower than that of aparasitemic ones (P<0.05). The prevalence of anemia was 19.67% (95%CI: 16.24-23.48) and not significantly affected by the different risk factors considered (P>0.05) with the exception of Geri (Peasant association) which have shown the lowest anemia prevalence (P<0.05).The relative abundance of Glossina species caught and trypanosome detected confirmed the continuous challenge of the disease in the settlement areas. Therefore, the ongoing community based tsetse and trypanosomosis prevention/control strategy should be 40 Geremew Haile et al., Ethiop. Vet. J., 2016, 20 (1), 39-54 strengthened in the area.