Browsing by Author "Fitsum Alemayehu"

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    Epidemiological and Socio-Economic Investigation of Camel Sudden Death (CSD) and Its Relationship to Paste Des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in a Wash Fen tale, Afar Regional State, Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2011-11) Fitsum Alemayehu; Maximilian Baumann
    A cross-sectional survey using serological and participatory appraisal investigation methods was applied between March 20 II and November 201 1 to determine the seroprevalence of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in camel and its associations with major risk factors like age, sex, pastoral association (Pa) and female lactation status, and to assess the community knowledge about causes and the socio-economic impact of a camel sudden death outbreak in 2006 in Awash Fentale of Afar Regional state, Ethiopia. Seroepidemiological investigations were performed using the competitive ELISA technique. The overall seroprevalence of PPR in camel in the study area was 13.7% (n= 446). Higher seroprevalences were recorded in camel of Doho Pa (19.1%) being significantly different from the other Pas, in female camel (14.1%) compared to male (6.7%); in lactating camels (14.9%) compared to dry camels (11.7%) and in adults >4years (14.2%) compared to young camels (12%). From the risk factors analyzed in the univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis including Pa, sex, age and female lactation status, only Pa remained to be significantly associated (P=O.OI) with seroprevalence with an odds ratio of 3 (95% CI: 1.012-9.417) when Doho was compared to Sabure Pa (2.4%). The participatory methods used were pair-wise ranking and comparison, matrix scoring, and proportional piling. The result of pair-wise ranking indicated strong agreement among the 5 informant groups (W=0.883; p=O.OO) where camel sudden death (Galireba) was ranked first followed by pneumonia (Mesengele). Matrix scoring for the disease indicators/disease signs showed strong levels of agreement among the 5 informant groups (W= 0.672-1.000; p< 0.05) for the Awash Fentale Afar pastoralist's descriptions of camel sudden death with at least some overlap with modern veterinary descriptions. The results of proportional piling indicated that about 49.3% of the camel population suffered from various diseases and 35.1 % died during the 2006 camel sudden death outbreak period. For camel sudden death (Galireba) the highest mean annual incidence and mortality of 23.3% and 22.8%, respectively were reported with the highest mean annual incidence in adults (45.4%), being significantly (p<0.05) different from calves (\0%); similar findings were noted for mortality in adults compared to calves. The participatory appraisal results indicated camel sudden death is an important camel disease in Awash FelltaleAfar pastoral production system to wanant the institution of an appropriate control strategy. The semi-structured questionnaires revealed fmiher that camel is a very impo11ant animal to the Awash Fentale Afar pastoralists in terms of food security and social benefits such as transport, source of income, and ceremonial purposes. All of the respondents indicated the importance of camel milk for children and for its clan based consumption. The mobility of the camel herds for many reasons is likely to contribute in particular to the transmission of infectious diseases. The reason that camel sudden death in 2006 affected camel herds which were not sick, clearly indicates its peracute nature and thus only preventive measures can be applied. The high mean number of camels dead (15) per herd and a market price of 4,134.7 Bin due to CSD for mostly adult, productive camels did have a direct and serious impact on the (re )building-up of camel herds using replacement stock. Most of the signs shortly before and at death (69%) were inconclusive including recumbency, dyspnoea, arching of neck, oozing of blood from anus (81.1%) and nasal discharge (12.6%). The post-mortem results revealed black, enlarged lungs, blackish effusion from the thoracic cavity, extended and black liver, hypertrophied heart, airway passages filII of white foamy gaseous fluid, distended carcass, and no rigor mortis. Even though the absence of rigor mortis and blood clotting are pathognomonic signs of anthrax, vaccination against anthrax and even mass treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics did not stop the mortality, although a reduction in mortality was observed. No etiological agent such as Bacillus anthracis was isolated. Although camel movement control is impractical (at least at present) in the Awash Fentale Afar pastoral system, the detem1ined level of seropositivity of PPRV and the reported loss due to morbidity and mortality attributed to camel sudden death justifies the launching of a disease identification and control, prevention and emergency rehabilitation programmes, Thus PPR and its effects in camels and small ruminants and possible interactions should be further studied, Key: Camel sudden death, PPR, seroprevalence, cELIS A, Pmiicipatory Appraisal, Awash Fentale Afar