Ciência e Tecnologia Veterinária

A cross sectional study was conducted from November 2016 to April 2017 with the objective of identifying the major constraints of small scale intensive chicken farms in and around Nekemte. All available small scale intensive chicken farms at Nekemte (n=43) were assessed. Data were collected using a semi structured questionnaire on possible chicken farm constraint from chicken farm workers up on interview. Recorded data were entered to Microsoft excel sheet and analyzed by descriptive statistics. Disease, Chicken feed, farm management and market were the major constraints. Newcastle disease has been identified as the most prevalent disease (occurred in 37.2% farms) followed by fowl cholera (13.9%) with Marek’s disease being the least (6.97%). High price of chicken feed (in 53.4% farms) and shortage in supply (in 11.6% farms) were identified as feed related challenges. 55.81% chicken farms used pot charcoal to brood chicken during early stages. Chicken farms have also faced market challenges due to longer fasting periods (in 30.23% farms), inappropriate market chain (in 25.58% farms) and low price of chicken products as compared to costs for production (in 20.93% farms). In general, assessed small scale intensive chicken farms were having constraints related with disease, chicken feed, management and market. Therefore, government should encourage chicken feed manufacturers, increase veterinary service, design appropriate market chain and provide trainings to farm workers on farm management practices in order to minimize chicken farm constraints and assure feed security in general.

The delay between blood sampling and measurement can have an impact on hematology results, and sample delivery between laboratories can also have an impact. The purpose of the present study was to investigate changes that occur in hematological values at T0, T6, T24 and T48 hours of storage in horse blood samples stored at 4˚C in EDTA-coated tubes. For this purpose, 30 horse blood samples were collected. All samples were immediately analyzed using manual method to determine the base line values (T0). Then the samples were refrigerated for T6h, T24h, T48 hours and reanalyzed for hematological parameters respectively. Results showed that there were no statistical significant changes from the base line values in all hematological parameters: PCV, Hgb, WBC counts, and RBC counts, MCV, MCH and MCHC all through T48. Therefore, further studies based on large number of study animals and using more advanced hematological analyzers needed to conclude the stability of hematological parameters in horse.

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) remains a huge threat to cattle production in sub–Saharan African countries like Ethiopia. A cross sectional study was conducted between September, 2020 to June, 2021 to determine seroprevalence, to identifying animal and herd level risk factors and to estimate knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of farmers toward CBPP disease, in districts of Kofele and Siraro. A total of 384 animals were randomly selected with no history of vaccination against CBPP and serum samples were collected and tested by competitive ELISA. Questionnaire survey from 74 cattle owner was collected and data obtained from both serological and questionnaire surveys were analyzed by using SPSS software version 25. The results indicated that, the overall animal and herd level seroprevalence of CBPP were 16.14% (62/384) and 43.24% (32/74) respectively. Among the potential risk factors analysed by Univariate logistic regression analysis, those p-value less than 0.25 were analysed by Multivariate logistic regression and this showed that in age group sampled adult cattle (OR=1.642, CI95%:1.110-2.43, P=0.021) were 1.64 times to be affected than young. Animals which had history of respiratory problems (OR=2.5, 95% CI: 1.5-4.1, P=0.000) were 2.5 times more likely to be seropositive than those hadn’t history of respiratory problems, poor body condition animals (OR=8.4, 95% CI: 1.5-10, P=0.001) were 8.4 times more likely to be seropositive than good body condition and cattle that found in lowland area (OR=2.6, 95%CI: 1.34-4, P = 0.001) were 2.6 times more likely to be affected by CBPP disease than animals found at highland area. As well as the likelihood of getting risk of infection with CBPP disease of female (OR=2.6; 95% CI: 1.45-3, P=0.014) is 2.6 times than male. This study showed that the overall prevalence of CBPP was high, so appropriate implementation of appropriate prevention and control is needed. The questionnaire result indicates majority of farmers were practicing poor animal husbandry that created favourable conditions for the distribution of the disease in the community. Therefore, to deal with CBPP disease, further farmers should be made aware of about the disease and its importance through veterinary extension education.

Gastrointestinal nematodes are one of the main constraints to goat production worldwide. A cross-sectional study longitudinal study from were conducted in Haramaya, Ethiopia to determining the prevalence and seasonal dynamics of gastrointestinal nematodes of goats. A total of 384 fecal samples were randomly collected and analyzed using standard parasitological methods of floatation and ova culture. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes was 73.7% (283/384). The result showed higher percentage prevalence in young (76.2%) than adult’s age group (73.0%). The difference in gastrointestinal nematode infection between female (79.6%) and male goats (59.09%) was statistically significant (p=0.001). The Egg Per Gram (EPG) count result showed 69.6%, 7.4%, 23.0% of the goats were lightly, moderately and heavily infected with gastrointestinal nematodes respectively. The overall genera of nematode identified and counted from coproculture in the study areas were trichostrongylus spp (54.6%), teladorsagia (17.6%), haemonchus spp (14.4%), muellerius capillaris (7.6%), oesophagostomum spp. (1.7%), nematodirus spp (1.7%), strongyloides papillosus and cooperia (0.9%), chabertia (0.5%) and trichuris (0.1%). Based on the monthly mean EPG count recorded during the short and long rain seasons with peaks occurring in may and september of the year. To mitigate the burden of gastrointestinal nematode parasites: Good management practices considering breed, sex, age, pasture rotation, housing of animals during peak time and optimizing anthemintic usage through deworming of goats during season where parasitic load is peak in host animal is very crucial.