Browsing by Author "DESTA, BEYENE"

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    STUDY ON CONTACT POINTS FOR THE TRANSMISSION DYNAMICS OF PESTE DES PETITIS RUMINANTS (PPR) IN BASONA WERANA DISTRICT, NORTH SHEWA ZONE, ETHIOPIA
    (2007-06) DESTA, BEYENE; Dr. Yilkal Asfaw, Dr.Berhe G/Egziabher
    A study to establish contact points of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) disease in small ruminants was conducted in Basona Werana District, North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia, from October 2006 to April 2007. This study was mainly designed for the identification of the contact of small ruminants at grazing and water points, on the way to the market and through rebi practice and contacts with wild ruminants. Further more, other supplementary data on the socioeconomic values of these animals were assessed. The Result of the study indicated that higher numbers of sheep are kept by the households than goats, suggesting that sheep are the dominant species raised in the study area compared to goats. In the present study, farmers sell small ruminants for a number of reasons. The cash obtained from the sale is used for acquiring goods and services which they do not produce themselves, in order to satisfy a variety of needs ranging from food items, clothing, medication, and schooling to the purchase of breeding stock and other production inputs and supplies. Out of the total herd owners interviewed, most farmers sold animals for purchasing clothes 303 (29.02%) followed by food for the family 224 (21%). Other owners used the cash for purchasing fertilizer 173(16.57%), animal feed 59 (5.65%) and for paying land taxation 143(13.7%), school fee (105(10.06%) and others. Out of 101 farmers who bought animals, 45 (44.55%) of the respondents used for own consumption followed by breeding reasons 42 (41.60%) and 14(13.86%) for profit. This shows that small ruminants are mainly used for immediate needs and investment. Animal movement through the practice of rebi, herd contact at grazing and water points, the mixing of animals on the way to the market and at market site are the most important PPR risk factors identified. Rebi practice (the caring of animals by another person) is one of the traditional livestock rearing system practiced by farmers in the study area to fulfill the economic and social needs. The overall proportion of rebi practice in the study area was 36(4.5%). Animal movement from other districts to the study area by rebi practice might lead to the transmission of Peste des petitis ruminants (PPR) disease. Information recorded on such kind of animal movement was not available. The livestock production in the present study area predominantly depends on communal grazing lands. The finding of the study indicated more herd contact at communal grazing land (10.2%) compared to privately owned grazing points xii (3.5%). Communal grazing increases the contact rate among animals and in cases where PPR out break has not been recognized in time and hence the disease will spread fast among the susceptible population. Contact of small ruminants at water points in the study area with herds from other PAs was identified in both permanent river and spring water 9.62% and 10.2%, respectively. The overall herd contact at water points was 10.34 %. The increased contact rate among animals at water points suggested that susceptible animals can therefore acquire infection from these points. Out of 737 farmers visited the markets, 390(53.0%) was found mixing their animals on the way to the market with herds of other Peasant associations or districts. Small ruminants trading at markets or their movement on the way to markets where animals from different sources are brought into close contact with one another, affords increased opportunities for PPR transmission. The role of wild life in the epidemiology of PPR in Ethiopia is not known. Bush Duiker and Klipspringer were the wild ruminants identified in the study area. About 36 (78.3) and 18(81.8%) of the respondents have identified Bush Duiker only, 6(13.0%) and 3(13.3%), Klipspringer only, and 4(8.7%) and 1(4.5%) both wild ruminants around their grazing and water points respectively. The overall proportion of these wild ruminants observation was higher at grazing point (57.5%) compared to water point (27.5%). The mean distance at which wild ruminants (Bush Duiker and Klipspringer) was observed from the water point and grazing point was 162.27+27.23 and 125+16.01, respectively. The mean frequency/week for the observation of these wild lives were 2.5 +0.16 and 2.55 +1.25 from the grazing and water points, respectively. In general, the identification of contact points for PPR transmission helps in adopting animal movement control in disease spread and in designing modeling of the disease and its control strategy.