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This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies for Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) in dairy cattle in the Jimma zone of Ethiopia in 2011. A random sample of 29 herds was selected, and all mature cattle within these herds had a blood sample taken. Serum was tested in duplicate, as recommended by the manufacturer, for evidence of infection with MAP, using an antibody ELISA. A questionnaire was used to collect information from the owner or farm manager on cow and herd demographics and management to allow for comparisons of our results with other studies. Herd sizes ranged from 3 to 17 cows per herd, with 95% of cows being Holstein crosses, ranging in age from 3 to 15 years old (mean of 5.5 years). Milk production ranged from 1 to 20 kg/cow/day, with an average of 8.4 kg/cow/day. All farms used tie-stalls for their cows, 59% of farms allowed newborn calves to suckle their dams on the day of calving, and 54% of farms purchased cattle in the last 5 years. Of the 242 cattle tested, 5 cows (2.1% with a 95% confidence interval – 95%CI - of 0.2% to 3.9%) were seropositive. Due to the low test sensitivity, the true animal prevalence estimate was calculated to be 2.6% (95%CI: 0.6% to 4.6%). At least one animal tested positive in 3 of the 29 herds (10.3% - 95%CI: 0% to 21.7%). Adjusting for the low test sensitivity, the true herd prevalence estimate was calculated to be 32.6 % (95%CI: 15.2% to 50.0%). This study provides the first immunological evidence of the prevalence of exposure of Ethiopian cattle to MAP, and at levels similar to other countries with small-scale dairy production. Corroboration of these prevalences with pathological, microbiological, and/or immunological MAP research in Ethiopia iswarranted.Keywords: Dairy Cattle, Johne’s, Paratuberculosis, Seroprevalence, Western Ethiopia

A study was carried out in Nakuru and Mukurweini districts of Kenya to identify the risk factors associated with gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection in cattle on 128 dairy farms between June 16th 2010 and August 30th 2010. Faecal samples were collected from the rectum of 419 heads of cattle that were above three months of age on the selected farms, refrigerated and delivered to the Department of Veterinary Pathology, Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi, for GIN analyses (McMaster method) within 7 days. Questionnaires were administered on every farm to collect individual animal and farm management data. Logistic regression analysis was carried out (univariable and multivariable), and a model developed using a backward elimination method. The univariable analysis revealed that animal age, district, time to last deworming, frequency of manure removal, source of forages, and the type of dewormer used last as the factors associated with GIN infections in cattle. The final regression model indicated that animal age, farm district, time to last deworming, and the type of dewormer used last as the factors associated with nematode infections in cattle. The study concluded that grazing management and the deworming management, particularly among young animals, were the main factors associated with cattle GIN infections.Key words: Risk factors, cross-sectional design, cattle, gastrointestinal nematodes.