A cross-sectional study of epizootic lymphangitis in cart-mules in western Ethiopia.
A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of epizootic lymphangitis (EL) in 309 cart-mules (cart-pulling mules) in Bako and Ejaji towns, Western Ethiopia using clinical and microbiological examinations, between November 2002 and April 2003. The overall prevalence was 21% (CI=16.6-26%). The clinical, histological and mycological characteristics of EL in a cart-mule were similar with those in a horse. There was significant (chi2=133.5, P=0.001) association between tick infestation and EL lesions in study cart-mules. Amblyoma coherence and Boophilus genera were the ticks collected from lesions of cases of EL, and thus played a predisposing role. In conclusion, our results showed that EL has high prevalence in cart-mules in the two towns.
Ameni
Gobena
G
Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. gobenaameni@yahoo.com
Terefe
Woldu
W
D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018397:Equidae; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006736:Horses; D008205:Lymphangitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D013984:Tick Infestations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D013987:Ticks