Abstract

A cross sectional study was carried out on pasteurellosis of small ruminants in Fogera Woreda, Ethiopia. The objectives of this research were isolation and characterization of the bacterial species by culture and biochemical testes, and determining the prevalence in apparently pneumonic small ruminants. Out of the total 988 samples examined, 322 were detected positive for pasteurella with an overall infection rate of 32.6%. Of which, 180 (55.9%) were from nasal swabs and 142 (44.1%) were from blood samples. Accordingly, 79.5% of the isolates were Mannheimia haemolytica and 20.5% were Pasteurella multocida. Significantly (p<0.05) higher prevalence was detected in sheep (37.1%), females (36.42%), young (52.97%), and extensively managed ruminants (38.15%) than those in goats (21.9%), males (25.29%), adults (21.26%) and semi-intensive production systems (17.18%), respectively. Similarly, the frequency of infection was significantly (p<0.05) higher in winter (48.6%) and spring (32.85%) as compared to autumn (23.79%) and summer (19.67%). In conclusion, this finding showed that the disease is highly prevalent in the study area. Thus, an integrated application of vaccination and overall management measures should be implemented to prevent and control the disease in animals.

Key words: Pasteurellosis, Isolation, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Sheep and Goats, Identification, Fogera, Ethiopia.