College of Veterinary Sciences
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Item COPROLOGICAL STUDY OF TREMATODE INFECTIONS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN CATTLE AND SHEEP AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF FRESHWATER SNAIL IN SOUTH AND SOUTHEASTERN ZONE OF TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA(Mekelle University, 2025-01-25) Girmay GebrezgiTrematode infections are a significant cause of disease and economic losses worldwide. However, limited research has been conducted in the South and Southeastern zones of Tigray, Ethiopia, regarding the local epidemiology, transmission dynamics, and management strategies. To address this gap, a cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2023 to December 2024 to investigate the prevalence of trematode infections in cattle and sheep and the spatial distribution of freshwater snails in these areas. Simple random sampling was used to select study animals, and descriptive statistics were computed using STATA version 16. In total, 1536 fecal samples (768 from cattle and 768 from sheep) were examined, alongside snail collection. Additionally, 13 laboratory-bred mice were exposed en masse to Schistosoma cercariae for confirmation of transmission. The study revealed that the majority (60.29%, 463/768) of cattle and 53.5% (411/768) of sheep had either single or multiple trematode infections. Among cattle, 19.01% were testing positive for fasciolosis, while 20.7% exhibited mixed infections of Fasciola and Paramphistomum species. In sheep, 21.74% were positive for fasciolosis and 18.23% for mixed infections. The South zone had the highest prevalence in both cattle and sheep. Furthermore, most of the positive rates were exhibited in adult cattle with poor body condition scores while in adult sheep with medium body condition scores. Logistic regression showed a significant association between zone and bovine fasciolosis (OR = 1.76; P = 0.000), but no significant association for ovine fasciolosis. A total of 1269 snails were collected, identified as Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Bulinus truncatus, and Lymnaea natalensis. Intermediate hosts for schistosomiasis collected during the survey were found to be shedding Schistosoma cercariae. Furthermore, en masse cercariae-exposed laboratory-bred mice confirm the active transmission of schistosomiasis in the study area. The study highlights the trematode infections and the heterogeneous distribution of snails in the study area are a significant health concern for cattle and sheep, underlining the need for targeted control measures to mitigate the public health and economic impacts in the regionItem Investigation of Physicochemical Characteristics and Heavy Metal Contamination in Honey from Selected Districts of the Tigray Region, Ethiopia(Mekelle University, 2024-12-25) Hagos TsegayThis study was conducted to assess the physicochemical properties and heavy metal concentrations in honey sourced from selected districts in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2024 to December 2024, in which representative pooled honey samples (500 grams per district) were collected from six purposively selected districts. The physicochemical parameters: hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) levels, free acidity, color, moisture content, electrical conductivity, ash content, and pH were analyzed, while concentrations of metals were also determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The findings revealed moisture content ranging from 16.8% to 20.5%, electrical conductivity between 0.215 and 0.645 mS/cm, pH values from 4.44 to 5.505, free acidity levels between 8.5 and 23 meq/kg, ash content from 0.045% to 0.29%, and HMF concentrations ranging from 0.8 to 15.95 mg/kg. The physicochemical characteristics of the honey complied with European, national, and Codex Alimentarius standards, confirming its quality and safety for human consumption. The validity of the analytical methods was confirmed by recovery rates for heavy metals ranging from 95.5% to 105% in spiking experiments. The highest concentration of heavy metals was found for iron (Fe), which ranged from 6.58 to 25.36 mg/kg, followed by manganese (Mn) at 0.06–2.74 mg/kg, zinc (Zn) at 0.01–1.90 mg/kg, and copper (Cu) at 0.04–0.19 mg/kg; lead (Pb) and chromium (Cr) were not detected in any samples, indicating the absence of these potentially toxic heavy metals in the honey analyzed. Overall, these findings are suggesting a good quality of honey production in the study area. However, regular monitoring of both physicochemical properties and heavy metal levels in honey is crucial for ensuring consumer safety and maintaining market standards, alongside further research into honey quality and safety practices.Item ASSESSMENT OF MICROBIAL QUALITY, AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF RAW COW MILK ACROSS DAIRY SUPPLY CHAINS OF AGULAE TOWN, TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA(Mekelle University, 2025-06-18) Hailay Gebretnsae BerhaneRaw cow milk is a key food source in Ethiopia, but it poses significant health risks due to microbial contamination and poor handling practices. The aim of this study was to assess the microbial and physicochemical quality of raw cow milk across milk supply chains (farms, vendors, and cafeterias) in Agulae town, Tigray. A cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2024 to April 2025; involving 83 raw milk samples collected using a proportional cluster sampling technique. Microbial loads (total bacterial count, total coliform count, and total yeast and mold count and physicochemical properties were analyzed using standard laboratory techniques. The results revealed a concerning escalation of bacterial contamination as milk moved through the supply chain. Total Bacterial Count increased significantly (p<0.001) from farms (6.67 log10 CFU/mL) to vendors (7.07 log10 CFU/mL) and cafeterias (7.37 log10 CFU/mL). Similarly, Total Coliform Count was significantly (p<0.001) higher in cafeterias (6.33 ± 0.31 log₁₀ CFU/mL) and vendors (6.09 ± 0.70 log₁₀ CFU/mL) than in farms (5.04 ± 0.85 log₁₀ CFU/mL). Additionally, total yeast and mold counts were also high (overall mean = 4.05±0.41 log₁₀ CFU/mL) but did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) across the milk supply chain. The overall mean (mean ± SD%) of raw cow milk physicochemical parameters, including added water content (0.19 ± 0.84%), temperature of milk (18.49 ± 3.30°C), freezing point (-0.55 ± 0.02°C), pH (7.04 ± 0.19), fat (4.17 ± 1.36%), lactose (4.70 ± 0.23%), solids-not-fat (SNF) (8.57 ± 0.41%), protein (3.15 ± 0.18%), total solids (12.75 ± 0.96%), and ash content (0.70 ± 0.03%), have no significant (p > 0.05) variations across the chains. Several risk factors linked to higher bacterial counts, including sex, educational status, marital status, types of milk supply chains, hand washing before milking, and time of milk, were identified. These findings expose critical hygiene and handling gaps, particularly at the vendor and cafeteria levels, driving substantial microbial contamination. Targeted interventions, such as hygiene milk handling training and infrastructure improvements, are strongly recommended to bolster the safety of the dairy farms and protect consumers.