title: A cross-sectional study of bovine tuberculosis in dairy farms in Asmara, Eritrea.
abstract: Bovine tuberculosis in dairy cattle in Asmara, Eritrea, was studied using a cross-sectional study to describe its prevalence and to identify factors associated with it. A total of 72 randomly selected herds were included in the study. The comparative intradermal tuberculin test was used for the diagnosis. Of 1813 individual animals tested, 14.5% were reactors. Thirty herds (41.7%) had at least one reactor but, by defining a reactor herd as any herd with two or more reactors, only 19 (26.4%) herds were classified as reactor herds. Based upon individual animal specificity of 98.5%, the calculated herd specificity was > 99%. A multiple logistic model showed that the presence of exotic breeds was associated with a high risk (odds ratio = 5.70; 95% confidence interval 1.13-28.8). An increased risk was also linked to large herds. Keeping the animals always indoors reduced the risk, but could not be fitted to the model owing to empty cells.
authors.affiliation: College of Agriculture, University of Asmara, PO Box 1220, Eritrea.
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Omer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skjerve
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Woldehiwet
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Holstad
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003612:Dairying; D019017:Eritrea / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006799:Housing, Animal; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000662:veterinary; D014380:Tuberculosis, Bovine / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*