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We provide existence results to some planar nonlinear boundary value problems, in the presence of lower and upper solutions. Our results apply to a class of systems generalising radial elliptic equations driven by the p-Laplace operator, and to some problems involving the Laplace–Beltrami operator on the sphere. After extending the definition of lower and upper solutions to the planar system, we prove our results by a shooting method involving a careful analysis of the solutions in the phase plane.

Melese Workneh Fego,1 Jihad Tahir Yasin,2 Gezahegn Mamo Aga2 1Department of Nursing, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Mettu University, Mettu, Ethiopia; 2Mettu Health Science College, Mettu, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Melese Workneh FegoMettu University, PO Box: 318, EthiopiaEmail meleseworknehfego@gmail.comBackground: Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous clinical syndrome secondary to defects in insulin secretion, action, or both. The worldwide fatality and disability rate imposed diabetic patients for insulin self-administration regardless of a scarcity of their knowledge, attitude, and practices. Thus, the study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice towards insulin-self administration among diabetic patients attending Bedele Hospital, southwest of Ethiopia.Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted by a consecutive sampling technique at Bedele Hospital from 15 December 2019 to 22 January 2020. A pretested structured English version relevant questionnaire translated to local language was administered on 196 subjects. Data were tested for clarity, consistency and analyzed using The Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23 and summarized using descriptive statistics in the form of tables and figures.Results: Of 196 subjects, 180 subjects participated in the study giving a response rate of 92%. The study reveals that knowledge, attitude, and practice towards insulin self-administration were 132 (67.3%), 113 (57.6%), and 123 (62.8%), receptively, which implies that good knowledge, a favorable attitude, and good practice to insulin self-administration.Conclusion: While the patients had good knowledge, good practice, and a favorable attitude to insulin self-administration, it does not match sufficient thus, to achieve a maximum level the hospital should develop several strategies like constant information education communication.Keywords: attitude, diabetic patients, insulin self-administration, knowledge, practice

A cross-sectional study was conducted from December, 2019 to May, 2020 with the aim of determining seroprevalence and identifying the potential risk factors of brucellosis in dairy cows with recent cases of abortion and their owners and farm workers in selected sites in the central highland of Oromia, Ethiopia. The overall seroprevalence of bovine and human brucellosis was 0.61% (95%CI: 0.016–2.09) and 1.21% (95%CI: 0.032–4.27) using combined RBPT and CFT tests, respectively. The late stage of abortion (OR = 14.74, p =0.0002), retained fetal membrane (OR = 32.74, p=0.006), market-based stock replacement (OR = 16.55, p=0.002), and presence of parturition pen (OR = 11.511, p=0.027) were found to be significantly associated with seropositivity for Brucella infection in dairy cattle. Human housing (OR = 1.8, p = 0.002), contact with aborted fetus (OR = 21.19, p = 0.017), and drinking raw milk from aborted (OR = 5.72, 0.019) and retained fetal membrane (OR = 4.22, p= 0.029) cows all had a significant influence on human brucellosis seropositivity. A structured interview question was administered to 284 respondents. Accordingly, most respondents had no knowledge of bovine brucellosis and their zoonotic effects (93.3%) in contrast most of them drink raw milk. Implementation of a test and slaughter strategy with compensation is recommended with this low prevalence. In the case of human brucellosis, implementing one health approach framework should be practiced.

Background: Brucellosis is an important neglected zoonotic disease caused by infection with bacteria of the genus Brucella affecting different mammalian species including man. A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the seroprevalence of brucellosis in camels and human and its associated risk factors in Amibara district of Afar region, North east Ethiopia from October 2019 to May 2020Result: A total of 250 camel and 120 human sera were serially tested using the Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT), and Complement Fixation Test (CFT). The overall seroprevalence of camel brucellosis in the current study was 7.6% (95% CI: 4.9-11.56) using RBPT and 3.2% (95% CI: 1.63-6.2) by combined RBPT and CFT. In Human twelve (10%) of the collected sera were positive by RBPT among which only four of them (3.33%) were positive by CFT. The risk factors analysis indicated that, age, body condition, number of parity and abortion history were significantly associated with brucella seropositivity in camel(P≤0.05). In human, occupation and non-protective handling of dystocia cases showed apparent association with brucella seropositivity.Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that, brucellosis is a common health problem in camel and human in Amibara district of Afar region. The public health importance of this disease is associated with raw milk consumption and close contact with the animals having history of recent abortion. Therefore, controlling the risk factors, establishing brucella diagnostic service in human clinics and hospitals, continuous social training with feedback assessments and overall implementing of One Health approach framework to attain optimal health for people and domestic animals in area are recommended to safeguard the health of society.

Background: Brucellosis is a serious zoonotic disease affecting human and all domestic animals. It is considered to be one of the great public health problems all over the world. Little attention has been paid to bovine brucellosis in small holder dairy farm and in animal owners and farm workers in central highland of Ethiopia. Result: The overall seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis were 1.2% (95%CI: 0.47-2.97) by RBPT alone and 0.6% (95%CI: 0.016-2.09) using combined RBPT and CFT tests. In human, the overall seroprevalence of zoonotic brucellosis was 4.2% (95%CI: 0.204-8.42) by RBPT and 1.2% (95%CI: 0.032-4.27) using combined RBPT and CFT tests. Statistical analysis of risk factors by univariable firth’s bias reduced logistic regression indicates that late stage of abortion (OR=14.74, p=0.0002), retained fetal membrane (OR=32.74, p=0.006), market based stock replacement (OR=16.55, p=0.002), and presence of parturition pen (OR=11.511, p=0.027) were found to be significantly associated with the seropositivity for Brucella infection in dairy cattle. The seropositivity of human brucellosis was significantly influenced by human housing (OR=1.8, p=0.002), contact with aborted fetus (OR=21.19, p=0.017), drinking raw milk from aborted (OR=5.72, 0.019) and retained fetal membrane (OR=4.22, p=0.029) cows. A structured interview question was administered to 284 respondents. Accordingly, most respondents had no knowledge on brucellosis (93.3%). Conclusion: The present seroprevalence study revealed that brucellosis is prevalent at lower rate among dairy cattle and in exposed individuals in the study areas. However, since there were no control strategies implemented in the area, there is a potential risk for transmission of brucellosis in dairy cattle and exposed human population of study areas. With the low prevalence of bovine brucellosis in government owned and small holder farms, implementation of test and slaughter strategy with compensation to farmers is recommended; while in case of human brucellosis, continuous social training with feedback assessments, implementing one health approach framework and since its presence is confirmed and the risk factors are identified, the medical personnel should give attention as to differential diagnosis of the disease which has been overlooked so far.

Background The Benishangul-Gumuz region is an important development corridor in Ethiopia. Large-scale projects such as the Great Renaissance Dam, mining and agriculture have entailed huge environmental modifications and settlement pattern changes. There is no detailed epidemiological information on visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the region. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the epidemiology and risk factors associated with Leishmania infection. A leishmanin skin test (LST) was done for 1342 participants, and for 253 of them rK39 and DAT were carried out. Thirty-six dogs owned by households with LST-positive member(s) were rK39 and DAT tested. A pretested questionnaire was used to capture individual and household characteristics. Results Of the 89.2% (1197/1342) who availed themselves of the LST reading, 6.0% were positive. The rk39 and DAT positivity among the 253 tested were 3.2% and 5.9%, respectively. In dogs, positivity rates by rK39 and DAT were 13.9% and 5.6%, respectively. Of the household and individual risk factors, presence of a dog in the household (P = 0.005), male sex (0.003), residence woreda (0.000) and occupation (0.023) showed a strong positive association with LST positivity. Individuals who lived in households that had dogs were 2.6 times more likely to be LST positive (AOR = 2.6; 95% CI = 1.54, 4.40). Being female decreased the probability of being LST positive by 0.38 times (AOR = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.20, 0.72). People living in Guba and Kurmuk had 4.7 (AOR = 4.74, 95% CI 1.83, 12.31) and 5.9 (AOR = 5.85, 95% CI 2.27, 15.09) times more risk of being infected. Conclusions We demonstrated the presence of active VL transmission in the areas. Thus, we underline the need to establish the responsible vector(s) and reservoir(s) for comprehensive early containment plans to prevent potentially harmful public health and economic consequences. Graphical Abstract

Background This study aimed to assess magnitude and factors associated with anemia among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods Institution based cross sectional study design was conducted from December 1–30, 2018 on 405 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic. All pregnant women visiting the Antenatal care clinic during the study period and who fulfilled the eligibility criteria were included in the study. Secondary data was collected from clients register and personal files on hemoglobin, HIV, stool, and other variables. Descriptive statistics was used to analysis some variables by using SPSS. Logistic regression was carried out to identify factors associated with anemia in pregnancy. Adjusted odds ratio with their 95% of confidence interval and p

Mycobacteria are slow-growing, acid-fast and aerobic organisms whose genus classified in to more than 90 different species (Watterson 1998)..

Background: This study aimed to assess magnitude and factors associated with anemia among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: Institution based cross sectional study design was conducted from December 1, 2018 to January 15, 2019 on 405 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic. All pregnant women visiting the Antenatal care clinic during the study period and who fulfilled the eligibility criteria were included in the study. Secondary data was collected from clients register and personal files on hemoglobin, HIV, stool, and other variables. Descriptive statistics was used to analysis some variables by using SPSS. Logistic regression was carried out to identify factors associated with anemia in pregnancy. Adjusted odds ratio with their 95% of confidence interval and p

Background: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second most leading cause of death next to cervical cancer in Ethiopia. An economic burden of breast cancer is a considerable issue in most middle and low income countries, especially in Ethiopia, where there is high out-of-pocket expenditure for health. Objectives: To estimate Economic burden of breast cancer patients on chemotherapy attending at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Teaching Hospital (TASH) and to determine Predictors for variation in patient related cost of breast cancer patients on chemotherapy. Methods: The Cost of illness study on 349 breast cancer cases was carried out at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Teaching Hospital (TASH) using cross sectional study design. A Simple random sampling method was used to select study participants. As a semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data, mean, median and standard deviation were used to calculate direct cost indirect cost and companion side costs. Multiple linear regression analysis was employed to analyze the separate effects of the various predictor variables on cost of treatment. Results: The average outpatient direct cost at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Teaching Hospital for breast cancer on chemo-therapy was 24953.45 ETB ($1188.26) SD (=24874.77{$1184.51}). Direct medical cost comprised the largest part (mean=18753.41 ETB (893.02 USD) (SD=18860.95 ETB) $898.14). Mean expenses for non-prescribed remedies was, 6200.00 birr ($295.24), takes the lion share of direct nonmedical cost followed by expense for transportation (mean=3568.31 ETB {$169.92). Conclusion: This study shows that the financial burden of breast cancer is substantial and overwhelming for both patients and their families. Outpatient treatment cost was found to be dependent on number of employed household members, number of facility visited. Longer duration of inpatient hospital stay and stages of breast cancer is associated with inpatient cost and indirect cost.

Background: The prevalence of bovine tuberculosis is high in developing countries due to lack of awareness, good diagnostic methods and prevention strategies. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis and compare the efficacy of different procedures of diagnosis. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted at Gondar Elfora abattoir from December, 2005 to June, 2006. To this effect, comparison has been made between the detailed postmortem examination and routine meat inspection procedures with gold standard culture result. Result: Out of 402 animals examined at slaughter, 15.9% were diagnosed with gross tuberculous lesions by detailed laboratory examination. Routine abattoir inspection detected only 2.9% of the tuberculous cattle. From 64 cattle considered tuberculous, 10 show growth in Lowenstein-Jensen. The average number of lesions per infected cattle was 1.6% and 55.5% of cattle with tuberculous lesions possessed single lesion. All the traits (including sex, age and body condition score) measured in relation to tuberculous lesions did not show a statistically significant difference among the categories. The sensitivity of routine meat inspection was 18.8% with detailed postmortem examination and 30% with culture in comparison with 83.3% specificity. There was a poor agreement (k=0.18) between routine meat inspection and detailed postmortem examination procedures. Similarly, a poor agreement (k=0.12) was obtained between routine meat inspection procedure and culture result. Conclusion: Relatively higher prevalence was recorded, and there is a need to improve the sensitivity of routine abattoir inspection procedures to diagnose tuberculous.

Tuberculosis remains one of the major causes of global public health problems. There is no effective vaccine for the disease until now. Many reports show that DNA vaccines are promising to induce protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb); however, the efficiency of DNA vaccine is limited due to inadequate delivery systems. Among others, live attenuated bacterial vectors such as Salmonella enterica typhimurium ( S. typhimurium ) have significant promise as efficient mucosal delivery vehicles for DNA vaccines. In this study, we constructed recombinant attenuated S. typhimurium DNA vaccines carrying genes encoding resuscitation promoting factor (Rpf)-like proteins of M. tb on eukaryotic expression plasmid agianst latent tuberculosis and evaluated the plasmid stability and growth curve assays of the recombinant Salmonella vaccine constructs in vitro. Four Rpf gene fragments (RpfB, RpfC, RpfD, RpfE) associated with latency were amplified from genomic DNA of the H37Rv strain of M. tb, cloned into eukaryotic expression plasmid (pVR1020) and verified by sequencing. In later studies, we will demonstrate the potential use of the Salmonella -mediated DNA constructs as candidate post-exposure vaccines against tuberculosis through testing their immunogenicity and effectiveness for oral delivery in eukaryotic systems. Key words : Latent tuberculosis, resuscitation promoting factor (Rpf), DNA vaccine, recombinant Salmonella typhimurium.

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine seroprevalence of brucellosis from pigs in Central Ethiopia from October, 2013 to May, 2014. A total of 553 blood samples were collected and sera were tested with Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT). Out of 553 sera 25 (4.5%) were positive for Brucella antibodies. The results showed that higher seroprevalence in young (

Camel production is expanding in pastoral areas of the Eat African region {IGAD member countries} as a result of recurrent drought and its less susceptibility to drought relative to other livestock. It is an important domestic animal and the source of milk during dry season. Camel brucellosis is prevalent in the region. From review high prevalence of human brucellosis is observed with prevalence ranging between 1 to 46.5%, 2.15 to 60%, 5.8 to 17% and 2.15 to 7.5% by ELISA, RBPT, SAT and CFT respectively; whereas 3.1 to 40.5%, 2 to 39.9% and 1.6 to 7.6% by ELISA, RBPT and CFT in camels respectively. It is transmissible from animal to humans, causing acute febrile illness, undulant fever (inter¬mittent or remittent fever) which may persist for weeks or months accompanied by malaise, anorexia and prostration. Brucella species can enter mammalian hosts through skin abrasions or cuts, the conjunctiva, the respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal tract and through reproductive tracts. It has economic importance and public health hazard particularly to pastoralist community because of a widespread traditional habit of consumption of raw animal products and close contact with livestock including camels. Since brucellosis has no effective treatment both in human and livestock; vaccination, hygiene and awareness creation are the best control and prevention strategies in the region. Therefore, the objective of the seminar paper was to review-the epidemiology of brucellosis in camel and human in East Africa with emphasis on Ethiopia.

The study was conducted to examine changes in haematological and their eventual associations with parasitological parameters and clinical responses in experimentally infected Ethiopian highland sheep by increased doses of Haemonchus contortus infective larvae (L3). A total of 24 male sheep were allotted in to four equal groups: a single dose of 2 000, 4 000, or 6 000 infective larvae of Haemonchus contortus (L3) was orally administered to animals from the first 3 groups whereas the last group not treated and served as negative control. The faecal egg count (EPG), the body weight as well as haematological parameters (haematocrit and eosinophils counts) and proteinaemia were measured throughout the experimental 13 weeks long period and worm burden and sex ratio were assessed at necropsy. The infection was confirmed by the occurrence of the faecal egg excretion and by the presence of adult worms in abomasums. All Haemonchus infected sheep exhibited a progressive and severe anaemia characterized by marked reductions of haemoglobin concentration and haematocrit, associated with weight loss and growth retardation and on the contrary with strongly and transiently increased eosinophil population compared to control animals (P