Dinka Ayana

Hydatidosis: Prevalence and its economic importance in ruminants slaughtered at Adama municipal abattoir, Central Oromia, Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2007 to April 2008 to estimate the prevalence of hydatidosis in ruminants slaughtered at Adama municipal abattoir. An attempt was also made to estimate the annual economic loss due to condemnation of organs during meat inspection. A retrospective analysis of data spanning a 10-year period (1997-2007) was also undertaken to determine the presence of the parasite during this period. A total of 1152 ruminants (852 cattle, 92 sheep and 208 goats) were inspected following slaughter. Hydatidosis was prevalent in 46.8% cattle, 29.3% sheep, and 6.7% goats. In cattle, 326 (55.2%) of the lung, 219 (37.1%) of the liver, 21 (3.6%) of the spleen, 15 (2.5%) of the heart and 10 (1.7%) of the kidney were found to be infected with hydatid cysts. In sheep, hydatid cysts were recovered from 22 (55.0%) of the lung, 16 (40.0%) of the liver and 2 (5.0%) of the spleen while none of the heart and kidney were recorded positive. In goats, the degree of infection was 6 (33.3%) of lung, 10 (55.6%) of liver, 1 (5.6%) of spleen and kidney each. According to the retrospective data, a total of 107,333 cattle were slaughtered and during this period 13,519 of the liver, 18,304 of the lung, 1142 of the kidneys, 537 of the hearts and 150 of the spleens were found to be infected with hydatidosis. The total annual economic loss incurred due to hydatidosis in ruminants slaughtered at Adama municipal abattoir was estimated to be to 52,828 ETB (5869.8 USD). The current results suggest that a thorough investigation that leads to a disease control strategy is required to reduce the economic and public health consequences of hydatidosis.

Identification and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile of Salmonella Isolated from Selected Dairy Farms, Abattoir and Humans at Asella Town, Ethiopia

Salmonella is one of the most common causes of food-borne diarrheal disease in human as well as animals. It is leading causes of acute gastroenteritis when ingested in contaminated foods, including meat and dairy products. Moreover, the emergence of multiple-resistant (MDR) isolates is increasing in human and veterinary medicines. Therefore, this cross-sectional study aims at isolation, identification and antibiogram of Salmonella from selected dairy cattle farms, abattoir and in contact humans in both dairy farms and abattoir of Asella, Ethiopia. We collected 185 samples from abattoir (n=94) and dairy farms (n=91), which were isolated and identified according to ISO-6579, 2002. The overall proportion of Salmonella was 6.5% (12/185) (dairy farms n=4, 4.4% and abattoir n=8, 8.5%). Antibiogram of isolated Salmonella was also evaluated against ten commonly used antibiotics in both humans and veterinary medicines to treat salmonellosis by using the Kibry Bauer disk diffusion method. All isolates (100%, n=12) were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and gentamycin followed by 91.7%, 75%, 66.7%, 58.3 and 50% of the isolates were susceptible to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, chloramphenicol, kanamycin, nalidixic acid and streptomycin, respectively. However, cefoxitin showed the highest resistance (66.7%) followed by ampicillin and amoxicillin (58.3% each). Moreover, 50% of the isolates were resistant to two or more of the tested antimicrobial agents. The highest MDR was seen on polled hand swabs from abattoir, resistance to eight antimicrobials (80%, n=8/10) with the combination of cefoxitin, ampicillin, amoxicillin and streptomycin being more frequent. High proportion of Salmonella was isolated from abattoir sample than dairy farms. These isolate developed MDR to commonly prescribed antimicrobial agents in the study area. Hence, strict hygienic management in the farm and abattoir as well as rational use of antimicrobials should be practised to circumvent the further development of antimicrobial resistance.

Determination of the sources and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella isolated from the poultry industry in Southern Ethiopia

BackgroundEthiopia set an ambitious masterplan to increase chicken meat and egg production from 2015 to 2020. Poultry breeding, multiplication and distribution centers in the country have received executive order to import, amplify and distribute commercial chickens to end users. The biosecurity and the pathogen fauna of the centers have not been evaluated as to whether the centers could implement the mission effectively without any risk. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the biosecurity practices and the pathogen prevalence, risk factors and their antimicrobial resistance (AMR) using Salmonella as case study.MethodsRoutine farm workers of the centers were interviewed about the different management (biosecurity) practices using a checklist. Samples (n = 270) from different sources consisting of chicken’s cloacal swab (n = 244), personnel hand swab (n = 9) and bedding (n = 17) were collected from three chicken multiplication centers. Standard bacteriological methods were used for the isolation of Salmonella. Disk diffusion method was used for drug sensitivity testing.ResultsAntimicrobials were often over prescribed without confirming the cause of ill health and without susceptibility testing. The general biosecurity and flock management practices were substandard. Salmonella was isolated from 45 (16.7%) of the 270 samples. Its prevalence was significantly (p<0.05) associated with location of the multiplication center, 27% at Bonga and 10.6% at Hawassa. Sample type was also significantly (p<0.05) affected in that it was higher in the bedding (35.3%) and personnel hand swabs (33.3%) than in the chicken cloaca (14.8%), which demonstrates the poor biosecurity and personnel hygienic practices in the centers. All of the 45 isolates (100%) exhibited resistance to kanamycin and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, nalidixic acid (97.8%), ampicillin (97.8%), cefoxitin (97.8%), streptomycin (97.8%) tetracycline (97.8%), chloramphenicol (91.3%), ciprofloxacin (31.1%), and gentamicin (0%). Alarmingly, 42 isolates (93.4%) exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR) to ≥ 8 drugs and all 45 isolates had resistance to ≥ 3 drugs. The high rate of Salmonella isolation from (i) bedding, (ii) personnel hand swabs (iii) chickens, (iv) presence of more MDR isolates, (v) coupled with poor biosecurity practices in the centers could pose a risk for spreading of pathogens and drug resistant genes to the smallholder chicken producers and the public.ConclusionsWe conclude that the poultry breeding, multiplication and distribution centers in Ethiopia, as they stand currently, seem to be a source of pathogens and AMR isolates at least for Salmonella. Therefore, strict biosecurity, personnel safety, prudent drug use, regular monitoring and traceability of Salmonella serotypes or genotypes and AMR are recommended.

Assessment on Chemicals and Drugs Residue in Dairy and Poultry Products in Bishoftu and Modjo, Central Ethiopia

Despite the growing of contamination of foods of animal origin with chemicals during production, processing and storage, less attention being paid for the potentially present chemical residues in such foods (meat, milk, eggs and their products). This study was carried out to assess the chemicals and veterinary drugs used, and their possible occurrence as residue in dairy and poultry products in randomly selected dairy and poultry farms, and milk and animal feed processing plants located in Bishoftu and Modjo, central Ethiopia through questionnaire and observation. The result of this study showed that antibiotics, mainly penicillin-streptomycin and ampicillin-cloxacilin combination were used in all dairy farms while oxytetracycline and sulfa drugs were used by 85.7% and 57.1% of dairy farms. Oxytetracycline, amoxicillin, ciprofloxacillin, and sulfa drugs were used in 100%, 71.4%, 28.6%, and 28.6% of poultry farms, respectively. The study also revealed albendazole and ivermectin were commonly used in 96.4% and 71.4% of the dairy farms, respectively while piperazine was a common anthelmintic used in 31.0% of poultry farms. The antiprotozoal drugs commonly used in poultry farm were amprolium (100%) and sulfa drugs (26.3%) while the commonly used drug in dairy farms was sulfa drugs (50.0%). Antiseptics, namely, savlon (82.2%), iodine tincture (53.3%) and denatured alcohol (53.3%) were commonly used in dairy farm whereas disinfectants, such as, hydrogen peroxide (83.3%), sodium hydroxide (66.7%), and formalin (19.0%) were commonly used in poultry farms though small number of dairy farms also used formalin (17.8%) and hydrogen peroxide (10.7%). Among the rodenticides used in farms, zinc phosphide was used more in poultry farms (33.3%) than dairy farms (14.3%). Different chemicals were also used in the milk and feed processing plants. We conclude that there are high possibility of drug and chemical residues occurrence in poultry and dairy products in the area.

Staphylococcus: Isolation, Identification and Antimicrobial Resistancein Dairy Cattle Farms, Municipal Abattoir and Personnel in and AroundAsella, Ethiopia

A cross sectional study was conducted between February, 2014 and April, 2014 to isolate and identify Staphylococcus from dairy cattle farms and municipal abattoir; and to evaluate antimicrobial sensitivity for isolates in and around Asella, Ethiopia. An over all of 181 samples were collected and processed from nine dairy cattle farms (87) and seven municipal abattoir visits (94). Accordingly, 42 (23.2%) udder milk, 9 (5.0%) tank milk, 9 (5.0%) polled bucket swab, 9 (5.0%) tank swab, 9 (5.0%) polled hand swab, 9 (5.0%) polled nasal swab, from dairy cattle farms; and 66 (36.5%) meat swab, 7 (3.9%) polled knife swab, 7 (3.9%) polled slaughter line swab, 7 (3.9%) polled hand swab and 7 (3.9%) polled nasal swab from municipal abattoir visits were collected. The result showed the overall proportion of Staphylococcus was 89 (49.2%). Staphylococcal species were more predominant in abattoir 50/94 (53.2%) than farms 39/87 (44.8%), but there was no significant difference between them because p>0.05 at 95% confidence interval. Also high proportion of Staphylococcus was isolated from polled farm nasal swab 8/9 (88.9%), but this difference between sample type and the presence of Staphylococcus is not significant, because p-value (0.303) is greater than 0.05 at 0.05 level. Up on isolation and identification 35 (19.3%), 6 (3.3%), 24 (13.3%), 24 (13.3%) were S. aureus, S. intermedius, S. hyicus and Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CNS), respectively. From total positive samples, 55 isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility to different 15 antimicrobial discs. The comparative efficacies of antimicrobials used indicates Gentamycin, Kanamycin, Chloramphenicol, Ciprofloxacillin, and Sulphamethoxazole trimethoprim, were the most effective antibiotics where by 94.5%, 89.1%, 81.8%, 81.8%, and 81.8% respectively. Good hygienic practices should be followed both in dairy cattle farms and municipal abattoir including working personnel and equipment’s used; and antimicrobials susceptibility test should be carried out at regular intervals to find out the development of resistance against the most commonly applied antibiotics.

Assessment of Rational Veterinary Drugs Use in Livestock at Adama District Veterinary Clinic, Central Ethiopia

A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate rational drug use in livestock at Adama district veterinary clinic, central Ethiopia. 2,000 animal patients’ encounters were randomly selected for the study from prescription registration books retrospectively. A total of 2,489 drug products prescribed for a total of 2,000 patients were assessed. The average number of drugs prescribed per encounter was 1.25 with maximum of three. The percentages of encounters in which antimicrobials (AM) and anthelmintics (AH) were prescribed were 46.4% (1,156/2,489) and 46.7% (1,163/2,489), respectively. The percentages of drugs prescribed by generic name and from national veterinary drug list were 97.4% (2,424/2,489) and 100%, respectively. The most commonly prescribed AM and AH were oxytetracycline 73.9% (854), penicillin and streptomycin fixed combination 22.6% (261) and ivermectin 94.8% (1,102), respectively. Among the total of 2,000 animal patient encounters, all (100%) were treated empirically without getting correct laboratory supported diagnosis. Evaluation of drug prescription pattern based on clinical symptoms or disease diagnosed revealed that AM (22.6%) and AH (36.7%) were mostly prescribed for respiratory and musculoskeletal-integumentary systems, and gastrointestinal related clinical symptoms, respectively. The study result also showed AM (6.5%) were prescribed for parasitic diseases whereas AH were administered for bacterial (2.9%) and surgical (0.9%) cases respectively. Among 2489 drugs prescribed by professionals, 1762 (88.1%) and 238 (11.9%) were done by animal health assistants and veterinarians, respectively. On the basis of the finding of this study, the prescribing practice for antimicrobials shows deviation from the standard recommended by WHO. The findings had shown problems in generic prescribing, incorrect diagnosis and standardized patient case book with low prescribers’ educational status in the study area. Therefore, veterinary drugs should be judiciously used; and a wide scale study to safeguard the public from drug residual effects and antimicrobial resistance development is recommended.

First record of the nematode Libyostrongylus dentatus Hoberg, Lloyd & Omar, 1995 (Trichostrongylidae) in ostriches (Struthio camelus Linnaeus, 1758) (Struthionidae) outside the Americas

BackgroundLibyostrongylus douglassii, Libyostrongylus dentatus and Libyostrongylus magnus are nematodes that infect ostriches. The first species has been identified in ostriches from Africa, Europe, Americas and Oceania. Although the natural range of ostriches is Africa, L. dentatus was first described in birds from the USA and later identified in Brazil, where co-infections with L. douglassii have been commonly reported. Libyostrongylus magnus is known from the original description only. There are a few reports on infections with L. douglassii in ostriches from Africa and all farmed birds examined are from the southern region of the continent. The aim of this report was to verify Libyostrongylus spp. infections in wild ostriches from Ethiopia. Fecal samples from ostriches, Struthio molybdophanes, were collected and submitted to coproculture. Infective larvae were identified to the species level based on general morphology and morphometry. In addition, phylogenetic analysis of the first and second internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) of the nuclear ribosomal DNA was performed.ResultsInfective larvae from Ethiopian ostriches had the morphological characteristics of L. dentatus. Confidence interval estimate for sheath tail length from Ethiopian Libyostrongylus sp. isolates overlapped one for Brazilian L. dentatus. Neighbor-joining and Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic trees based on sequences of the ITS1 and ITS2 regions revealed that the Ethiopian samples belong to the L. dentatus species clade. Monospecific infections with L. dentatus were confirmed in Ethiopian wild ostriches, opposed to the co-infections typically found in the Americas.ConclusionsTo our knowledge, this is the first record of L. dentatus from African ostriches, the region from which this parasite originated.

Occurence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile of Salmonella from Dairy Farms in and Around Meki Town, Oromia, Ethiopia

A cross sectional study was conducted on dairy farms in Meki town and its surrounding from January 2016 to April 2016 with the aim of this research work was to isolate, identify and determine the in-vitro antimicrobial susceptible profile of Salmonella in an apparently healthy lactating cows and farm equipmentA total of 304 samples were aseptically collected from udder milk, feces of cows, pooled bucket swab, pooled tank swab, tank milk and pooled milker′s hand swab.From the total of 304 samples examined, 11.2% were found to be Salmonella positive following the standard techniques and procedure out lined by International Organization for Standardization. There was no statistically significant association among sample types. However, there was statistically significant difference in Salmonella isolation frequency of lactating animals from small and medium size farms. All isolates were resistant to at least one or more antimicrobials tested. Accordingly 97.06%, 91.18%, 73.53%, 73.53%, isolates showed resistance to ampicillin, amoxaciilin, streptomycin, naldixic acid respectively.Multiple antimicrobial resistances (resistance to three or more antimicrobials) were detected in 97.05%. This study clearly indicates that Salmonella isolates shedded from feces can contaminate the milk, the farm equipments and personnel and result in bad hygienic standards of the farms. The current finding also revealed that there was higher percentage of multiple antimicrobial resistant isolates. Therefore, addressing the issue of antimicrobial resistance should be taken as one of the most urgent priorities otherwise it will be very difficult to cure clinical diseases if unwise use antimicrobials are practiced at the farm level.