Veterinary Science & Technology

Gastrointestinal parasites have an economic impact on equines due to treatment cost, reduction of productivity and work power. A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2017 to April 2018 in and around Gondar town, northern Ethiopia to estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors of gastrointestinal parasite infestation. Fecal samples, from 147 randomly selected equine (96 horses and 51 donkeys), were collected and examined with direct smear, flotation and sedimentation techniques. 135 equines were positive for gastrointestinal parasites with 91.8% prevalence, of which 94.1% and 90.6% prevalence was recorded in donkey and horse, respectively. Occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites between horse and donkeys showed no significant difference (p>0.05). Fecal examination revealed 58.52% infection with Strongyles followed by mixed infection (27.41%) and Parascaris equorum (14.07%). Statistically significant difference was recorded in the occurrence of Strongyle spps between, donkey and horse (p<0.05), and purpose of keeping the equine (p<0.05). There was also statistically significant association in the prevalence of Parascaris equorum and purpose of keeping the equine (p<0.05). The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites between age groups revealed statistically no significant difference (p>0.05). But, a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was recorded between the sex; body condition and purpose of keeping equine. In the present study higher prevalence of gastrointestinal parasite infestation was noticed in equines particularly with Strongyle spp. and Parascaris equorum. Therefore, strategic prevention and control of gastrointestinal parasite infestation is very crucial in current study area.

Identifying the prevalence and major causing bacteria for mastitis are very important for further improvement of product and productivity of lactating cows. The objectives of this study were to assess and identify the prevalence and major causing bacteria species for existence of bovine mastitis in the study areas. The study was carried out in six districts namely Bedele, Didessa, Dega, Yayo, Mettu and Becho districts. A total of 474 households were participated in the study to carry out an interview and further examination of their cows. The summarized result of the study revealed that 92.9%, 4.4% and 2.7% of the interviewed households in Buno Bedele Zone and 81.1%, 15.7% and 3.2% of the respondents in Ilu Aba Bor Zone have been practicing extensive, semi-intensive and intensive rearing systems, respectively. In addition to this, an interviewed respondents living in Buno Bedele (88.9%) and Ilu Aba Bor (92.0%) Zones had ≤ 10 herd size whereas the remains had >10 herd size. The prevalence of mastitis ranges between 25.6% and 47.9%; the lowest obtained from Mettu district while the highest observed in Dega district. The Staphylococcus aureus was one of the major examined bacteria species from Bedele, Didessa, Dega,Yayo and Becho districts with isolation rate of 57.1%, 69.2%, 67.7%, 65.0% and 34.8% respectively, while Enterobacteriaceae and Micrococcus species were observed as a major causing bacteria in Mettu and Becho districts with isolation rate of 42.9% and 34.8%, respectively.

The current study was undertaken around Bishoftu town using 75 chickens to identify helminths species and to elucidate the effects of helminths species on hematological components in chickens kept under scavenging production system. Researchers hypothesized that the hematological parameters would be correlated to the species richness per chicken. Hematological analysis was employed to estimate the effects of helminths on blood components and postmortem examination also used for the purpose of detecting the presence or absences of helminths infections. In hematological analysis the mean values of hematological indices in infected chicken were 30.1 ± 2.7%, 10.2 ± 1.4 gm/dL, 3.12 ± 0.3 × 10⁶/μL and 3.53 ± 0.3 × 10³/μL for Packed Cell Volume (PCV), Hemoglobin concentration (Hbc), Red Blood Cells count (RBCc) and White Blood Cells count (WBCc), respectively and in non-infected chicken were 34.56 ± 2.4%, 12.3 ± 0.9 gm/dL, 3.6 ± 0.2 × 10⁶/μL and 3.35 ± 0.2 × 10³/μL for PCV, Hb, RBCc and WBCc respectively. The effect of helminths assessed by comparing the two groups of chickens infected with non-infected. There was significant association (p<0.05) between infected and non-infected chicken and mean hematological indices. There was a negative significant correlation between infected and mean hematological of PCV (r=-0.57, p=0.00), Hb (r=-0.54, p=0.00) and RBCc (r=-0.53, p=0.00) but positive correlation between infected and mean values of WBCc (r=0.262, p=0.023). The postmortem finding identified six nematode and six cestode species. Ascaridia galli (24%) and Heterakis gallinarum (21.3%) were more prevalent nematode species and Raillietina echinobothrida (22.7%) was prevalent cestode species encountered. In conclusion, conducting a large scale research for further understanding whether other risk factors that were not considered in this study affect the epidemiology of helminthic disease and other complimentary physiological parameters indices of health research works would be recommended for further elucidation of the interaction between helminths and the aforementioned health indices. It is also advisable to create awareness to farmer on the importance of deworming in order to reduce economic losses induced by helminths parasites.