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This study was conducted from October, 2013 to May, 2014 to identify and compare common health and welfare problems of pack donkeys and cart horses in and around Holeta town, central Ethiopia. The presence of the problems was directly assessed on 301 pack donkeys and 84 cart horses, and indirectly assessed in the areas where the study animals were living, grazing and working. Indirect assessments of the problems were also conducted using focus group discussions with 64 equine owners and 8 animal health professionals. Oral problems (2.3 and 16.7%), back sore (13.6 and 1.2%), girth sore (2.7 and 17.9%), tail base sore (15.6 and 0%), abnormal behavior (14.3 and 0%), epizootic lymphangitis (EL) (0 and 10.7%), wound (33 and 44%) and hoof overgrowth (62.5 and 35.7%) were identified on pack donkeys and cart horses, respectively. Indirect assessments indicated that the animals are affected by strangles, tetanus, anthrax, colic, lameness, EL, wounds, parasites, sarcoids, rabies, African horse sickness, owner abuses, shortage of feed and water, and housing problems in the area. This study revealed that back sore, tail sore and abnormal behavior were more frequently occurring in pack donkeys whereas girth sore and oral problems were more common in cart horses. Cart horses were highly affected by epizootic lymphangitis. Both species were more or less similarly affected by lameness, strangles, tetanus, colic, wounds, parasites, owner abuses, and lack of proper feeding, watering and housing. Therefore, awareness creation of the population about the use of these animals for working and good management system should be promoted by the government in the area. Capacity building services should also be delivered for local animal health professionals. Key words: Donkeys, horses, health, welfare, Ethiopia.

Infection with abomasal nematodes, especially haemonchosis, is one of the most important problems challenging small ruminant production in the tropics. This study was carried out to identify nematodes infecting the abomasa, and estimate their prevalence and count in goats slaughtered in Mekelle town, northern Ethiopia. A total of 166 abomasa of goats were examined for postmortem differential adult nematode parasites count using standard procedure. Haemonchus spp. and Trichostrogylus axei were recovered from 126 (75.9%) and 109 (65.7%) abomasa, respectively. It was noted that 152 (91.6%) goats harbored at least one of the parasites, while 83 (50%) goats were found infected with both parasites. Mean and maximum adult worm counts were 39.2 and 270 and 55.2 and 600 for Haemonchus spp. and T. axei , respectively. Months of the year had significant (p

The aim of the current study was to investigate the association between diabetes and ASB in women, identify the bacteria involved and determine their antimicrobial resistance. Diabetic (n=100) and non-diabetic (n=100) nonpregnant women, with no abnormalities of the urinary tract were involved in the study. Clean-catch midstream urine samples were collected for bacterial isolation and identification. Questionnaire was used to collect demographic and clinical information of the patient. ASB was diagnosed in 22(22%) diabetic and 15(15%) nondiabetic women. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase negative staphylococci, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus species were isolated from both groups of study subjects. There was no statistically significant difference in the relative frequency of isolated bacteria species among the two groups of patients (P>0.05). Most of the isolated bacteria were resistant to amoxicillin (96%), penicillin (92%) and vancomycin (70%), but susceptible to ceftriaxone (60%), norfloxacin (62%) and gentamicin (62%). Occurrence of ASB was not associated with diabetic status in women attending Hawassa University Referral Teaching Hospital.

A longitudinal study was conducted, from October 2008 to April 2009, on 188 kids born from flocks of 50 randomly selected households in Aneno and Edokontola villages in Adamitulu Jedokombolcha district, mid rift valley, Ethiopia. The aim of the study was to estimate pre-weaning mortality, identify associated factors and establish possible causes of death in goat kids. Data collected were used to evaluate the effect of sex, birth weight, parity, type of birth and some management practices on pre-weaning mortality. All the factors, except sex of the kid, significantly (at least P

A bacteriological study of Salmonella Gallinarum/Pullorum was conducted in intensively managed chickens in Hawassa, Ethiopia between November 2008 and May 2009. The objectives of the study were to estimate the bacteriological prevalence of S. Gallinarum/Pullorum in apparently healthy chickens and to assess the proportional morbidity/mortality from S. Gallinarum/Pullorum in sick/dead chickens. Cloacal swabs were collected from a total of 380 randomly selected chickens from 3 poultry farms to estimate the prevalence, whereas necropsy samples of liver, spleen and ceca were collected from 31 sick/dead chickens to estimate the proportional morbidity/mortality. The prevalence of Salmonella infection (S. Gallinaum/Pullorum) was 0.8% (3/380), while isolation was possible from 16.1% (5/31) sick/dead chickens. Only S. Gallinarum was isolated from cloacal swabs. Of the 6 isolates obtained from necropsy samples 1 was S. Pullorum and the rest 5 S. Gallinarum; and, 3 were from liver, 2 from cecum and 1 from spleen. It is concluded that salmonellosis is prevalent and fowl typhoid and pullorum disease have significant role in morbidity and mortality of intensively managed chickens in Hawassa. This result may indicate the challenge that the poultry industry of the country may face from S. Gallinarum/Pullorum in the future in its intensification. Concerted efforts, therefore, should be made at national and local levels to control the diseases. Keywords ∙ Ethiopia ∙ Hawassa ∙ Isolation ∙ Prevalence ∙ Salmonella Gallinarum- Pullorum

The study was conducted from October 2013 to April 2014 in ELFORA export abattoir. The aim of this study was to identify and determine the major causes of organ and carcass condemnation and to estimate financial losses attributed to the condemned organs and carcasses from sheep and goats slaughtered in the abattoir. Standard antemortem and postmortem inspection procedures were followed throughout the study. Antemortem inspection was carried out in the lairage. There were higher record of nasal discharge, coughing, depression and lameness in both species. Postmortem examinations were conducted through their identification number to detect gross abnormalities and aesthetic reasons that rendered each organ to be rejected from the view of local and international markets. A total of 384 sheep and 384 goats slaughtered in the abattoir were included in the study. From these slaughtered animals, 768 organs and carcasses were examined. The study revealed that a total of 325 (42.3%) livers, 285 (37%) lungs, 40 (5.20%) hearts, 76 (9.90%) kidneys and 42 (5.46%) carcasses were rejected due to various causes. Stelesia hepatica (38.3%), pneumonia (60%), pericarditis (54.3%) and nephritis (35.3%) were found to be the major causes responsible for rejection of respective organs and carcass. The annual loss due to the rejection of organs and carcasses from the small ruminants slaughtered in ELFORA export abattoir is estimated to be 79,894.58 USD. In conclusions results of the present study justify immediate need of prevention of various pathogens that causes organ and carcass condemnation and pathological abnormalities through development of animal health delivery, enforcement of slaughter policy, education on animal welfare/humane slaughter, and training of slaughterhouse personnel on standard slaughter operations.

This study was conducted between November 2010 and April 2011 in 3 districts of Sidama Zone, southern Ethiopia, to estimate the prevalence and identify risk factors influencing occurrences of skin problems in donkeys. A total of randomly selected 384 male donkeys were clinically examined for skin problems. Hypothesized risk factors (age, body condition, use, feeding, housing at night, harness material, harness fitness) were either observed and recorded at the time of clinical examination or collected through semi-structured questionnaire. The overall prevalence of skin problems, taking into consideration harness sores, hyena bite, donkey bite, ectoparasites, epizootic lymphangitis, sarcoid, dermatophytosis, abscess, brand scar and ulcer due to Habronema was 91.9%. Sores were the most important (82.3%) skin problems followed by ectoparasites (22.1%). The ectoparasites identified in the study were lice (11.2%), ticks (10.4%) and mange mites (1.6%), with mixed infestation involving lice and ticks in 0.8% of the donkeys. Body condition, age, harness material and harness fitness were significantly associated with sore prevalence (P