http://ir.haramaya.edu.et//hru/handle/123456789/239 2026-06-17T18:31:23Z http://ir.haramaya.edu.et//hru/handle/123456789/8497 ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND PRACTICES ON ANTIMICROBIAL USE AND RESISTANCE AMONG COMMERCIAL POULTRY FARM OWNERS AND WORKERS IN SELECTED CITIES OF EASTERN ETHIOPIA Bekiyad Shasho Daro; Yihenew Getahun ( MSc); Dawit Kassaye ( MSc); Dinaol Belina ( PhD) Antimicrobials are vital for disease control and productivity; however, their inappropriate use leads to antimicrobial resistance, a global threat to public health. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of poultry farm owners and workers towards antimicrobial use and resistance in three selected cities in Eastern Ethiopia, through structured interviews with a census of 106 poultry farms. Findings indicated that only 30.2% (95% CI: 22.1%-39.7%) had good knowledge, regarding antimicrobials (36.7%, OR=24.7, p<0.001), unawareness of residues (67.9%; OR=0.02, p<0.001), disease-specific drug (34.9%; OR=54.2, p=0.001), unfamiliarity with residue transmission (64.2%, OR=0.01, p<0.001), and difference in efficacy of antimicrobials (64.2%; OR=8.79, p=0.033). Attitudes were desirable in 48.1% (95% CI: 38.6%-57.7%), subjected to random antimicrobial use (64.4%, OR=3.94, p=0.026), missing doses (7.7%, OR=0.04, p = 0.013), using with feed (53.6%, OR=20.91, p<0.001), correct dosage (61.5%, OR=11.82, p=0.010), controlling access to antimicrobials (57.4%, OR=7.02, p=0.016), not obliged to finish before expiration (65.3%, OR=10.01, p=0.001), and minimizing antimicrobial use (75.9%, OR=15.37, p<0.001). Improved practices were noted only in 38.7% (95% CI: 29.8%-48.4%), with personal drug administration (90.9%, OR=11.8, p=0.010), non-professional recommendations (77.8%, OR=28.93, p=0.016), uninformed about its use as growth promoter (8.3%, OR=0.05, p=0.036), noting withdrawal times (87.5%, OR=30.9, p<0.001), adjusting dose when no recovery (95.6%, OR=13, p=0.002), not ceasing treatment even if symptoms go (64.5%, OR=30.9, p=0.007), and not switching antimicrobials (13.2%, OR=0.004, p=0.001). Pertaining to the associated factors for each, knowledge was found to be directly related with attitudes (r=0.3278, p=0.0006) and practices (r=0.4300, p<0.0001), and also attitudes with practices (r=0.2278, p=0.0189). In general, this study identified significant gaps in knowledge, attitudes and practices related to antimicrobial use and resistance among commercial poultry farm owners and workers in eastern Ethiopia, necessitating targeted interventions to enhance understanding and promote responsible antimicrobial use practices. Therefore, comprehensive education, veterinary guidance, mentorship programs, and robust antimicrobial resistance surveillance systems are necessary to address the gaps and curb the spread of resistance in the study areas and beyond 95p. 2025-03-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.haramaya.edu.et//hru/handle/123456789/8299 MAGNITUDE OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM INFECTION AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG DAIRY CALVES IN HARAR AND DIRE DAWA CITIES AND HARAMAYA DISTRICT, EASTERN ETHIOPIA MESFIN GABRE; Shihun Shimelis (MSc, Assit. Prof); Biruk Abraha (MSc, Assoc. Prof) Cryptosporidium is a parasitic protozoa that can cause diarrhea in dairy calves, especially in the first month of life. A cross-sectional study design was conducted from January 2024 to October 2024 G.C. to estimate the magnitude of Cryptosporidium infection and its associated factors among dairy calves in Harar and Dire Dawa cities and Haramaya district, Eastern Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to estimate the magnitude of Cryptosporidium infections and their associated factors in dairy calves. Feacal sample of calves (n = 360) with age groups ranging from two weeks to 12 months was collected from 30 dairy farms. All samples were processed using the modified Ziehl–Neelsen staining method. A well-structured questionnaire was administered to collect data on associated risk factors of infection. The intensity of shedding Cryptosporidium oocysts was semiquantitatively estimated according to the average number of oocysts. The overall magnitude of Cryptosporidium infection in dairy calves was 13.6% (95% CI, 18.6-79.5). The farm-level magnitude of Cryptosporidium oocyst shedding in calves was 43.3% (95% CI, 25.4-62.5). Multivariate logistic regression showed that calves raised in group pens were 4 times more likely to become infected than those raised in individual pens (P=0.024). Urban farms showed a 3 times higher risk of contracting the infection than farms in Peri-urban areas (P=0.02). Cryptosporidium infection in dairy farm calves 2 weeks-3 months of age was 5 times more likely higher than those >7-12 months (P=0.003). More specifically, the odds of having diarrhea due to Cryptosporidium infection in calves were 7 times greater than in calves with normal fecal consistency (P=0.01). The magnitude of Cryptosporidium infection was high in the dairy farms studied. Therefore, more studies are needed in detail on the magnitude and risk factors that are essential to evaluate the impact of infection on the health and productivity of the calf. 70 2024-10-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.haramaya.edu.et//hru/handle/123456789/8295 PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF ECTOPARASITES INFESTATION AND EVALUATION OF CURRENT CONTROL PRACTICES IN POULTRY PRODUCTION SYSTEMS IN AND AROUND DIRE DAWA, ETHIOPIA Yusuf Ahmed Elmi; Asst. Profe)Shihun Shimelis; Asst. Profes) Sisay Alemu Ectoparasites threaten poultry health and productivity by decreasing egg production, lowering meat yields and transmitting diseases. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of ectoparasites, identify associated risk factors and evaluate current control practices in poultry production systems in Dire Dawa. A cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2023 to July 2024, using stratified multistage cluster sampling, where 768 chickens were randomly selected from the extensive, semi-intensive and intensive poultry production systems. Data collection involved physical examination of chickens and interviews with poultry owners, farm managers or poultry caretakers. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, while logistic regression models were applied to identify associated risk factors. Out of 768 chickens examined, 577 were found affected with ectoparasites. Thus, the overall prevalence of ectoparasite infestation was 75.13% [95% confidence interval (CI): 71.9-78.2] with fleas (35.0%), lice (33.5%), mites (25.5%), and ticks (10.9%). Single infestations were seen on 48.7% of the chickens, while multiple species infestations occurred on 51.3% of chickens. The prevalence of ectoparasite infestation was significantly higher in extensive (85.66%) and semi-intensive (80.27%) than in the intensive system (65.95%). Age and management system were identified as the risk factors using a multivariable logistic regression analysis,. The respective odds of ectoparasite infestation was two fold (OR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.5–3.7; p<0.001) and four fold (OR = 3.5; 95% CI = 2.3–5.3; p<0.001) in the semi-intensive and extensive systems than in the intensive system. Adult chickens were twice as likely to be infested as young chickens (OR = 2.0; 95% CI = 1.4–2.8; p<0.001). In this study, 83.9% (68/81) of the respondents were found aware about infestation of poultry with ectoparasites. All those 68 (100%) conscious respondents implemented control measures that varied significantly, with 58 (85.3%) of them relying on natural remedies, 46 (67.6%) often applied control measures reactively in response to infestations and only 41 (60.3%) monitored their effectiveness. The main challenges identified were lack of knowledge 47 (69.1%) and the high cost of treatments 41 (60.3%). The study concludes that poultry ectoparasites are highly prevalent in Dire Dawa, emphasizing the need for affordable and effective control strategies and educational campaigns on managing poultry ectoparasite infestations. 99p. 2024-09-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.haramaya.edu.et//hru/handle/123456789/8288 MAGNITUDE OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM INFECTION AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG DAIRY CALVES IN HARAR AND DIRE DAWA CITIES AND HARAMAYA DISTRICT, EASTERN ETHIOPIA MESFIN GABRE; Shihun Shimelis (MSc, Assit. Prof); Biruk Abraha (MSc, Assoc. Prof) Cryptosporidium is a parasitic protozoa that can cause diarrhea in dairy calves, especially in the first month of life. A cross-sectional study design was conducted from January 2024 to October 2024 G.C. to estimate the magnitude of Cryptosporidium infection and its associated factors among dairy calves in Harar and Dire Dawa cities and Haramaya district, Eastern Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to estimate the magnitude of Cryptosporidium infections and their associated factors in dairy calves. Feacal sample of calves (n = 360) with age groups ranging from two weeks to 12 months was collected from 30 dairy farms. All samples were processed using the modified Ziehl–Neelsen staining method. A well-structured questionnaire was administered to collect data on associated risk factors of infection. The intensity of shedding Cryptosporidium oocysts was semiquantitatively estimated according to the average number of oocysts. The overall magnitude of Cryptosporidium infection in dairy calves was 13.6% (95% CI, 18.6-79.5). The farm-level magnitude of Cryptosporidium oocyst shedding in calves was 43.3% (95% CI, 25.4-62.5). Multivariate logistic regression showed that calves raised in group pens were 4 times more likely to become infected than those raised in individual pens (P=0.024). Urban farms showed a 3 times higher risk of contracting the infection than farms in Peri-urban areas (P=0.02). Cryptosporidium infection in dairy farm calves 2 weeks-3 months of age was 5 times more likely higher than those >7-12 months (P=0.003). More specifically, the odds of having diarrhea due to Cryptosporidium infection in calves were 7 times greater than in calves with normal fecal consistency (P=0.01). The magnitude of Cryptosporidium infection was high in the dairy farms studied. Therefore, more studies are needed in detail on the magnitude and risk factors that are essential to evaluate the impact of infection on the health and productivity of the calf. 70 2024-10-01T00:00:00Z