Bovine tuberculosis in eastern Ethiopia: prevalence, risk factors and its public health importance
BMC Infectious Diseases·
- DOI
- 10.1186/s12879-018-3628-1
- PMID
- 30630431
- PMCID
- PMC6327393
- OpenAlex
- W2943461573
- Study type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The authors highlight the high observed prevalence, low owner awareness, preference for raw milk, and reported TB among farm attendants as evidence that bovine tuberculosis poses a zoonotic risk requiring awareness-raising and control measures in eastern Ethiopia.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The study aimed to estimate the occurrence of bovine tuberculosis in selected areas of eastern Ethiopia and to assess cattle owners' awareness of its public health implications.
Study design
A cross-sectional study conducted from December 2014 to June 2016 using comparative intradermal tuberculin skin testing in cattle and structured questionnaires administered to farm/household owners.
Population and setting
315 dairy cattle and 43 farm/household owners from selected areas of eastern Ethiopia, including Dire Dawa, sampled using random methods from farms and households.
Main findings
Overall individual-animal prevalence of bovine tuberculosis was 20.3% (n = 64) at the recommended >4 mm cut-off, with herd-level prevalence of 51.2% (22 of 43 farms positive). Prevalence differed significantly across sites, reaching 50% in Dire Dawa (χ2 = 45.2; P = 0.000). Farming system, herd size, and other recorded risk factors were significantly associated with occurrence (p < 0.05). Only 33% of farm owners had heard of bovine tuberculosis, 23% were aware of its zoonotic importance, more than 50% preferred raw milk consumption, and 3 of 43 (7%) farm workers reported TB with direct animal contact.
Public-health relevance
The authors highlight the high observed prevalence, low owner awareness, preference for raw milk, and reported TB among farm attendants as evidence that bovine tuberculosis poses a zoonotic risk requiring awareness-raising and control measures in eastern Ethiopia.
Important limitations
No explicit limitations are stated in the abstract. This summary is limited to the supplied single-article abstract and metadata; the original paper is needed for decision-grade interpretation, including details of sampling, tuberculin test interpretation, and risk factor definitions.
GIDS interpretation
Thematically, the article is discoverable under GIDS disease and country categories for tuberculosis in Ethiopia and may inform searches on zoonotic TB risk and awareness. No connection to a live surveillance signal can be drawn from the supplied evidence.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 5 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.