Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is the most severe and and widespread type in Ethiopia and is a life-threatening neglected tropical disease. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2016 to April 2017 to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of laborers, as well as the key socio-demographic risk factors and trends of VL in the Metema district and its surroundings. A total of 155 individuals were interviewed from four different locations. The survey included the socio-demographic details of the respondents, as long with their understanding, perceptions, and behaviours concerning VL. Moreover, 11 years’ retrospective data were gathered from Metema Hospital, encompassing admission dates gender, age, and the addresses of VL patients. Descriptive statistics were utilized to elucidate the characteristics of the disease and its related risk factors. Among the total participants, about 76% reported having heard of VL, while 68% failed to accurately recognize that VL is transmitted through insect bites. Furthermore, 26% of the participants thought that abdominal swelling was the only symptom of the disease, and 58.7% believed that death was the result of untreated cases whereas about 57% considered that VL to be completely treatable. Among the respondents, 56.8% reside in homes made of mud and wood, while 32.9% live in porous homes with only wooden walls. Nearly 60% of the study participants had the habit of outdoor sleeping and 45.8% preferred to work only during the day. As preventive measures for VL, 31%, 3.2 %, 6.5%, and 21.9% of the respondents use bed nets, insecticide spraying, cleaning their homes, or and a combination of two or more of these techniques, respectively. According to the hospital records 18.5% of the 11,819 VL suspected cases were confirmed to be positive for VL through serological testing. Among the patients with confirmed cases, 75.2% were between the ages of 16 and 30. Of the patients who tested positive for VL, 82.3% were from Metema district and 96.9% were men. Half of the admitted patients visited the hospital after a long rainy season. In conclusion, there is a lack of knowledge and/or inconsistent awareness of the disease in the communities, especially among the laborers. To raise their levels of knowledge, awareness, and practices, awareness-raising activities should be carried out on a regular basis.
The evaluation of biosecurity measures is paramount for disease control and prevention in livestock systems. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the biosecurity status of small-scale dairy farms in Sebeta Town, Ethiopia, through a structured questionnaire with a particular emphasis on Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), administered to farm owners or attendants from October to December 2023. Data collected encompassed farm demographics, animal health management, hygiene, movement control, and disease prevention. The study revealed very low overall biosecurity practices among the surveyed farms, highlighting a significant vulnerability to disease outbreaks. Key findings included widespread deficiencies such as the absence of biosecurity plans, suboptimal disinfection protocols, inconsistent animal movement control, and a lack of routine disease testing. Biosecurity scores among the 22 assessed farms ranged from 10% to 60%. Only three farms (13.6%) achieved a “Good” biosecurity status with scores ≥ 50% (51.1% to 55.6%), while the remaining 19 farms (86.4%) were categorized as “Poor” with scores below 50% (10% to 48.9%). These results highlight significant vulnerabilities and underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions, including enhanced vaccination, isolation of diseased animals, and rigorous cleaning and sanitizing practices, to mitigate disease risks in small-scale dairy farms.
The bursa of Fabricius is a diverticulum of the dorsal wall of the cloacal proctodeum. It is the unique primary lymphoid organ that produces B-lymphocytes of the humoral immune responses in Aves. The post hatch (PH) developmental changes of this organ were studied in turkey from day 1 (D 1) to day 140 (D 140) to determine structural transformations in the bursa as it develops post-embryonic and the relative timeline of onset of involution using gross anatomical and histological techniques. One hundred and twenty turkeys were used for the study. On D 1 and each of subsequent age groups, six randomly selected birds were sacrificed after the live body weights were determined. The bursa of Fabricius was collected through a ventral abdominal incision, weighed and examined for gross features; and then fixed in Bouin’s fluid. The fixed tissues were routinely processed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) for histological studies. The shape of the bursa was found to be tubular between D 1 and D 28, but globular between D 42 and D 140. Histologically, on D 1 the bursa consisted of tall mucosal folds whose cores were filled with developing follicles. By D 7, there was compartmentalization of follicular cells and the cortico-medullary border became apparent. Between D 14 and D 63, bursal follicles increased in size with corresponding increase in follicle cell population. On D 70, bursal cell population appeared to decrease and the cortico-medullary border became folded. There was gradual increase in thickness of the interfollicular septae and a corresponding decrease in cortical size. On D 140, subepithelial fibrosis was noted and the interfollicular connective tissue septa further increased in thickness. In conclusion, bursal development in turkey continued after hatch till about D 63, with progressive increase in cell densities and further organization of bursal cells into follicles. Early signs of involution were noticed about D 70 but became obvious at D 140. However, developmental studies of the bursa in turkey beyond D 140 are recommended to evaluate the fate of the bursa after this age bracket.
The spleen is one of the major peripheral lymphoid organs in avian species that functions both as lymphopoietic and haemopoietic organ. The post-hatch development of the turkey spleen was studied from day 1 (D 1) post-hatch to day 140 (D 140) to determine the morphological changes and the timeline of development of the basic immunological structures, using gross anatomical and histological techniques. One hundred and twenty turkeys of either sex were used for the study. Turkey hatchlings were procured from a reputable Veterinary services outlet in Umuahia, Abia State, and raised in a deep-litter pen. At D 1 and subsequent ages scheduled for the study, six randomly selected birds were weighed and humanely sacrificed by inhalation anaesthesia using chloroform, and the spleen was collected through a ventral abdominal incision. The organs were weighed, examined for gross features, and fixed in Bouin’s fluid. The fixed tissues were routinely processed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) for histological studies. Data on weight, organ body weight indices of different age groups were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SPSS version 17. Variant means were separated using Duncan’s multiple range test, and significance was accepted at p < 0.05. Results showed that the shape and colour of the spleen varied with age. The mean weight increased significantly from D 1 to D 140, while the maximum relative weight was attained at D 63. At D 1 post-hatch, the white and red pulps had distinctly differentiated. The peri-arteriolar lymphoid sheaths and the ellipsoids were equally well developed. There was dominance of the white pulp between D 1 and D 42. At D 49, the white and red pulps appeared equal in distribution. Lymphatic nodules were first observed at D 70, and in subsequent ages, there was preponderance of splenic nodules in the white pulp. The early differentiation of the splenic parenchyma into distinct pulp regions indicates early homing of lymphocytes as well as early development of functional spleen in turkey. Furthermore, dominance of the splenic parenchyma by the white pulp elements emphasizes more of lymphoid affiliation of the spleen in turkey.
Reproductive performance is a key determinant of productivity in the dairy industry. Dairy operations’ sustainability and profitability are impacted by efficiency of reproduction. Numerous animal health problems reduce the effectiveness of reproduction in dairy cows. The objective of this systematic review was to synthesize and critically evaluate the existing evidence regarding the major health constraints that impair dairy cattle reproductive performance to inform disease prevention, control strategies, and biosecurity measures. A literature search was carried out using two major databases: Science Direct and PubMed. One thousand four hundred eighty-eight preliminary results were obtained from the search, which focused on studies that connected disease and dairy cattle reproductive performance. Fifty-four pertinent publications were included in the review after the inclusion criteria (English-language studies and relevance of health problems to reproductive inefficiencies) were applied and duplicates eliminated. Infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, and production-related conditions that have detrimental impact on reproductive parameters were found during the review. The reproductive parameters used include age at first calving, calving interval, days open, calving to first service, first service conception rate, number of services per conception, and pregnancy rate. To mitigate reproductive failure, the results emphasize the necessity of prioritizing the management of these high-impact conditions in addition to standard biosecurity and disease testing. The insights are valuable for dairy farmers, veterinarians, and policymakers in designing targeted interventions to improve dairy herd reproductive efficiency.
