Journal of
Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health

  • Abbreviation: J. Vet. Med. Anim. Health
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2529
  • DOI: 10.5897/JVMAH
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 419

Full Length Research Paper

Bovine tuberculosis and its associated risk factors in pastoral and agro-pastoral cattle herds of Afar Region, Northeast Ethiopia

Gezahegne Mamo
  • Gezahegne Mamo
  • Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia.Institute for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, P. O. Box 1130 Blindern N-0318 Oslo, Norway.
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Fekadu Abebe
  • Fekadu Abebe
  • Institute for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, P. O. Box 1130 Blindern N-0318 Oslo, Norway.
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Yalelet Worku
  • Yalelet Worku
  • College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia.Afar Pastoral Agricultural Bureau, Afar Pastoral Region, Semera, Ethiopia.
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Nesredin Hussein
  • Nesredin Hussein
  • College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 34, Debre Zeit, Ethiopia.
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Mengistu Legesse
  • Mengistu Legesse
  • Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Institute for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, P. O. Box 1130 Blindern N-0318 Oslo, Norway.
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Getachew Tilahun
  • Getachew Tilahun
  • Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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Girmay Medhin
  • Girmay Medhin
  • Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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Gunnar Bjune
  • Gunnar Bjune
  • Institute for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, P. O. Box 1130 Blindern N-0318 Oslo, Norway.
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Gobena Ameni
  • Gobena Ameni
  • Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P. O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
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  •  Accepted: 15 May 2013
  •  Published: 30 June 2013

Abstract

Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) has a potential public health risk and economic impact in pastoralist community whose livelihood depends on their livestock. A cross-sectional study was carried out from September, 2008 to June, 2011 on 1087 cattle under pastoral and agro-pastoral production system in four districts of Afar Pastoral Region of Ethiopia using comparative intradermal tuberculin skin test to estimate the prevalence of BTB and assess the associated risk factors for infection. The individual animal prevalence of BTB in cattle of Afar pastoralists was 11% (95% confidence interval (CI): 9 to 13%) with ≥ 4 mm cut-off and 18% (95% CI: 16% to 21%) with ≥2 mm cut-off. The herd prevalence was 44% (95% CI: 36 to 51%) and 56% (95% CI: 48 to 63%) at ≥4 and ≥2 mm cut-off points, respectively. In bivariate analysis, the prevalence was significantly associated with study districts, herd size, sex and age, and in multivariable logistic regression analysis, the statistical significance was maintained with study district, age and herd size of the cattle. In conclusion, the present study revealed a moderately high prevalence of BTB in Afar Pastoral Region of Ethiopia and further investigation is recommended to assess the zoonotic significance of the disease to the pastoralist communities of the region.

 

Key words: Bovine tuberculosis, prevalence, risk factors, comparative intradermal tuberculin test, Afar pastoral region, Ethiopia.