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Background: Considering the socio-economic-cultural connection with livestock in African countries, zoonotic tuberculosis remains a public health threat for the public and abattoir workers.Objective: To assess the prevalence, awareness, and associated risk factors for zoonotic tuberculosis among the Adama Municipal Abattoir workers in Central Ethiopia.Methods: Interviews were conducted among 113 Abattoir workers, in Adama, Central Ethiopia, to assess the awareness level and predisposing factors for Zoonotic Tuberculosis. Sputum samples were collected from 54 consenting workers was for laboratory testing. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square/Fishers’ Exact test were employed for analysis.Results: Four out of the 54 abattoir workers tested positive for Mycobacteria by culture and acid-fast staining. One out of the four isolates were M. bovis while three were not members of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) by PCR analysis. Seventy-three (63.71%) respondents had no knowledge regarding the main hygiene practices in the abattoir. Most of the respondents (>90%) had the habit of consuming raw milk/meat and had contact with live animals and animal products for more than eight hour’s daily. Among the considered risk factors, only age (χ2=3.3074; P=0.0003) had a significant influence over the culture's positive status of the workers.Conclusion: Isolation of M. bovis with limited awareness and high-risk behavior for acquiring zoonotic tuberculosis is a concern. This warrants further investigation into the role of M. bovis with regards to the burdens posed by human tuberculosis in the area.&nbsp

Purpose: To assess the role of canine surgical sterilization and other dog population management strategies to complement rabies prevention and control programs. Findings: Rabies is highly fatal viral anthropozoonotic disease which is caused by virus of the genus Lyssavirus and transmitted from rabid animals to humans by bite or scratch from rabid animals. Rabies is preventable and controllable disease through integration of one or more animal population control and vaccination methods. However, the primary focus of a rabies control program in dogs is vaccination by implementation of mass dog vaccination aiming for 70% vaccination in order to promote and maintain levels of protection above thresh hold between campaigns which consequently reduces ongoing transmission. Not only these but also, interlinking of one or more of other DPM tools such as prevention and control of reproduction, acceptable euthanisation, surgical sterilization, education and legislation of responsible dog ownership can create effective DPM programs. In developing country the integration of animal birth control and vaccination is not at grass root level so well coordination of veterinarians, human health professionals and other stake holders are vital.

Many dog helminth parasites are endemic in many countries of the world posing public health threat. However, they were neglected and less studied in the developing countries such as Ethiopia. This cross-sectional study carried out from November 2016 to April 2017 in Bishoftu town aims at estimating the prevalence of major gastrointestinal tract (GIT) zoonotic helminth parasites of dogs and assessing dog owner’s knowledge and control practice against zoonotic dog parasites. Accordingly, the whole area of Bishoftu town was divided into 60 blocks, of which 10 were randomly selected for the study. A structured questionnaire was prepared in English, pretested and administered face to face to 140 dog-owning respondents using two local languages: Amharic and Affan Oromo. Fecal samples collected from 238 dogs after administration of ivermectin and praziquantel at recommended doses to increase sensitivity of detection and to get favorable cooperation of owners. For case detection flotation technique is used for parasite egg identification and parasite morphology for parasites observed in the feces. Pearson’s Chi-square (χ2), p-values and 95% confidence intervals calculated to measure association. Four zoonotic helminthic parasites detected with combined infection prevalence of 59.24% (95% CI: 52.84-65.35). The prevalence of each was 33.61% (95% CI: 27.86 – 39.90) Ancylostoma (A.) caninum, 29.41% (95% CI: 23.93 – 35.56) Toxocara (T.) canis, 19.75% (95% CI: 15.14 – 25.34) Dipylidium (D.) caninum, and 2.10% (95% CI: 0.87 – 4.98) Echinococcus (E.) granulosus. The prevalence of A. caninum and T. canis was significantly higher than the prevalence of D. caninum and E. granulosus. Mixed infection with two parasites recorded in 13.87% whereas concurrent infection with three parasites registered in 5.88% of the dogs. Statistically significant association (p

A defined antigen skin test has been developed for the reliable diagnosis and vaccine-based control of bovine tuberculosis., Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a major zoonotic disease of cattle that is endemic in much of the world, limiting livestock productivity and representing a global public health threat. Because the standard tuberculin skin test precludes implementation of Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine–based control programs, we here developed and evaluated a novel peptide-based defined antigen skin test (DST) to diagnose bTB and to differentiate infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA). The results, in laboratory assays and in experimentally or naturally infected animals, demonstrate that the peptide-based DST provides DIVA capability and equal or superior performance over the extant standard tuberculin surveillance test. Together with the ease of chemical synthesis, quality control, and lower burden for regulatory approval compared with recombinant antigens, the results of our studies show that the DST considerably improves a century-old standard and enables the development and implementation of critically needed surveillance and vaccination programs to accelerate bTB control.

A cross sectional study was carried out between November, 2009 and March, 2010 in Hawassa town, Ethiopia with the aims of determining the prevalence of intestinal helminthes of dogs and evaluating owner’s awareness about zoonotic dog parasites. A total of 455 dogs were sampled randomly and 58% (n=264) were positive for Strongyloides stercorslis, 49.2% (n=224), 40% (n=182), 25% (n=114), 6% (n=28) and 3.3% (n=15) were positive for Ancylostoma caninum, Dipylidium caninum, Toxocara canis, Echinococcus granulosus and Trichuris vulpis, respectively. Results from fecal examination showed that only 60 dogs were free of the above parasites (13.2%). From coprological examinations concurrent infections with one, two, three, four and five types of parasite were 19% (n=75), 33.9% (n=134), 32.2% (n=127), 13.6% (n=54) and 1.5% (n=6), respectively. There was statistically significant difference (P 0.05) in D. caninum, E. granulosus and T. vulpis in the two age groups. Questionnaire survey concerning owner’s knowledge about zoonotic dog parasites showed that only 4.4% of the respondents know that dogs have zoonotic parasites, specifically, 95.6% have awareness about the zoonotic importance of rabies and only 7.3% have awareness about the availability of anthelmitics to treat dogs parasites. The high level of helminthiasis in dogs in the present study represent high rate of infection and immense public health risks. In line with this finding, it is recommended that owners who keep dogs should improve their hygienic standards. Besides, they should be able to regularly treat their dogs with the appropriateanthelementics and awareness should be created on the prevention and control methods of helminthiasis. Key words: Prevalence, gastrointestinal helminthes, dogs, Hawassa Town, Ethiopia.

Post-slaughter survey data collected over a period of 15 years (1985-1999) by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FVM), Addis Ababa University (AAU) were used as a basis for the analysis of estimation of the economic significance of bovine hydatidosis in Ethiopia. The analysis output revealed a 35.15% mean annual prevalence of bovine hydatidosis. The total estimated economic loss from organ condemnation, carcass weight and milk yield decrease amounts to 1,691,266,200 ETB (101,203,734 USD). This is equivalent to a loss of 475.40 ETB (28.45 USD) per every infected slaughtered cattle and 249.00 ETB (14.90 USD) per every infected milking cow. The results of the present study showed that hydatidosis is a highly prevalent cattle disease in Ethiopia with considerable direct and indirect economic losses. The magnitude of loss per infected subject warrants the need to mount an integrated nation-wide hydatidosis control program involving public education, canine health care, proper handling and disposal of infected organs, stray dog population management and institution of strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) in slaughterhouses and public health legislative reinforcements. The authors recommend that hydatidosis control program should be designed and implemented in the context on ‘One Health’ initiative by integrating it with other zoonotic disease control program and in partnerships with animal and public health actors as well as other relevant stakeholders.

Hydatidosis/echinococcosis (Echinococcus granulosus, Batsch, 1786) is considered to be a serious problem for both public health and the livestock economy in Ethiopia. The present paper reviews and summarizes available data on the disease. Abattoir survey data collected over a period of 15 years (1985-1999) were analyzed to assess the infection prevalence of hydatidosis in domestic animals in three different agroecological zones of Ethiopia. Accordingly, 8036/22,863 (35.15%) cattle, 768/6518 (11.78%) sheep, 36/1753 (4.9%) goats, 70/417 (16.79%) camels and 0/150 (0%) pigs slaughtered in 21 different abattoirs located in various parts of the country were found harbouring hydatid cysts. A statistical discernible significant difference (p 0.20) in the infection prevalence of caprine hydatidosis between mid-altitude and lowlands. The present study reconfirms that hydatid disease is widespread and highly prevalent in ruminant livestock in Ethiopia and warrants institution of a nation-wide control measures. Considerations on experiences of other countries with respect to the economic benefits that hydatid disease control programs may bring to livestock producers and combining such efforts with other zoonosis control schemes in view of the ‘one health’ initiative is worthy for animal health planners and policy decision-makers. The paper also serves as a quick reference source on hydatidosis in the country and basis for future studies.