Seroprevalence of ovine brucellosis in south Wollo, north eastern Ethiopia.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in south Wollo zone, north east Ethiopia between October, 2008 and March, 2009 aimed at determining the sero-prevalence and to identify potential risk factors of ovine brucellosis. A total of 800 sheep were sampled from two districts, Kalu and Harbu. All sheep above six months of age with no history of previous vaccination against brucellosis were selected. Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) was utilized as a screening test for Brucella agglutinins while Complement Fixation Test (CFT) (Addlestone, United Kingdom) was used to confirm the reactors by RBPT. Over all seroprevalence of 1.5% (12 of 800) ovine brucellosis was observed. Seroprevalence was higher in female sheep compared to male sheep. Seroprevalence was calculated between sexually immature and sexually mature sheep, between animals kept under extensive and semi-intensive management system, and between animals of the two districts. Higher levels of sero-prevalence was observed in sexually mature sheep, in animals kept under extensive management system, and in sheep of Kalu with level of 1.54%, 1.6% and 1.58%, respectively. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the sero-prevalences of brucellosis in the different study groups of sheep. In conclusion, even though the prevalence of brucellosis observed in this study is low, it can be potential hazard for public health in the study area; therefore, the public especially small ruminant producers should be informed about the risk of ovine brucellosis.

Assessment on major factors that cause skin rejection at Modjo export tannery, Ethiopia.

A study was conducted from November 2009 to March 2010 with the objective of identifying the major causes of skin rejection on fresh, pickled, and wet blue skins at Modjo Mesaco Global tannery. A total of 401 fresh and 1,873 pickled and wet blue skins from the routine production system of the tannery were used. Overall, high prevalence of sheep ked (100%) followed by biting louse (64.4%), tick (50%), and sucking louse (45.8%) were observed on fresh sheep pelts, while, on fresh goat pelts, a high prevalence of sucking louse (54.5%), followed by tick (50%), and biting louse (35.5%) were observed. From the total of 90 rejected pickled and wet blue skins of sheep and goats, 98.8% were "ekek" and scratch, 85.6% sheep and goat pox, 74% poor substance, 73.3% heat, 72.2% scar, and 52.2% knife cut-in skins. Large number of skins rejections was recorded in large-sized skins (29.8%), and the lowest observed was in medium-sized skins (11.1%). There were highly statistically significant association (p < 0.05) between size and grades of shoat skins. Ekek and scratches together with sheep and goat pox were the common skin defects that hamper skin quality. However, there was no significant association (p > 0.05) between sheep and goat skins. Ekek and scratch caused high rejection of skin and entailed serious economic loss in terms of foreign exchange earning to Ethiopia. Therefore, the main causes of skin rejection and factors that cause downgrading of skin should be controlled.