Prevalence of the Major Infectious Animal Diseases Affecting Livestock Trade Industry in Ethiopia

Background: Livestock in Ethiopia provides drought power, incoming to farming communities, means of investment and important source of foreign exchange earning to the nation. Even though the livestock sub sector contributes much to the national economy, its development is hampered by different constraints mainly infectious diseases. The study was aimed to determine the prevalence of the major infectious animal diseases affecting the livestock and to estimate the economic loss due to the diseases.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2013 to May 2014 at Adama-Modjo Livestock Export Industry, Eastern Ethiopia. Result: Out of 4321 examined bulls, 556 (12.9%), 345 (8.00%) and 321 (7.40%) were found to be positive for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and both using 3ABC Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) respectively. Similarly, among 23, 479 examined Sheep, 1043 (4.50%) were positive Ovine brucellosis; of 4758 examined camels, 195 (4.10%) were positive for brucellosis through Complement Fixation Test (CFT) and Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) during the study period. The results of the present study was showed significant difference in the prevalence of the diseases among the origin of animals and Livestock Trade Industries (p<0.05). The study also revealed direct financial loss due to the diseases was estimated to be 241, 2341.50 US$, 62,580 US$ and 286,767US$ from bulls, sheep and Camels respectively. Conclusion: The finding was concluded that FMD, CBPP and Brucellosis are an important diseases problem in Livestock Trade Industry. This may cause international trade restriction of animal and animal products which affecting the export earnings of the country. Thus, attention should be given both at production area as well as to the quarantine stations. Keywords: Infectious Diseases, Livestock Trade Industry, Adama-Modjo Quarantine Station