1. Animal and Zoonotic diseases
Overall development objective to contribute to alleviation of food insecurity and poverty by increasing animal productivity and public health
Overall academic objective is to contribute to the increased capacity building in the field of veterinary medicine, animal nutrition and human parasitology.

2. FLEMISH PROJECT LEADER
Animal and Zoonotic diseases
FLEMISH PROJECT LEADER
LOCAL PROJECT LEADER
Prof Dr Jozef Vercruysse, Ghent University, Belgium
Dr. Feyesa Regassa, Jimma University, Ethiopia
OTHER TEAM MEMBERS
Prof Dr Peter Van den Bossche, ITM
Prof Dr Sarne De Vlieger, UGent
Prof Dr Geert Janssens, UGent
Prof Dr Pierre Dorny, UGent
Prof. Dr. Bruno Goddeeris, KUL
Dr. Filip Claes, KUL en ITM
Takele Sori
Moti Yohannes
Aseffa Wakwoya†
Abebaw Gashaw
Worku Tigre
Balako Gumi
Ginbar Tefera
Tadele Tolosa
Hailu Degefu
Zelalem Nigussie
Dinka Ayana
Mulugeta Tefera
Belay Duguma
Yisaek Kechero
Taye Tolemariam
Meseret Molla
Solomon Demeke

3. Research topics The epidemiology and control of helminth infections
Animal and Zoonotic diseases
Research topics
The epidemiology and control of helminth infections
The epidemiology and control of trypanosomosis
The importance and epidemiology of zoonotic diseases
The epidemiology and control of mastitis
Nutritive value of locally available feeds for livestock

4. New collaborative approach
Animal and Zoonotic diseases
New collaborative approach
To adapt better to the local capacity and capability of the Veterinary School e.g. experience in research, laboratory techniques, organisational expertise (samplings etc), availability of laboratory equipment
To improve collaboration between researchers and research groups and increase the number of scientists involved in the project
To exploit research opportunities relevant to the region and the whole country including urbanisation, increased demand for milk and milk products and encroachment of livestock into fertile tsetse-infested areas

5. Animal and Zoonotic diseases
3 research themes

6. Zoonotic component Objectives
To understand the importance and epidemiology of zoonotic diseases, in particular taeniasis/cysticercosis and echinococcosis/hydatidosis
Activities first working year
Abattoir-based study on Taenia saginata and Echinococcus granulosus in cattle between Oct Mar 2008
Training of Ethiopian topic leader at ITMA in serological techniques
Results
512 carcasses inspected, samples taken for parasitological and serological examination
15 (2.93%) infected with T. saginata metacestodes, and 161 (31.44%) with hydatid cysts
Future work
Continue work on Echinococcosis: genotyping, zoonotic importance, prevalence in dogs

7. Urban component: Mastitis
Objectives
1) To determine the bacterial flora involved in mastitis
2) To determine the clinical importante of mastitis in the Jimma zone
3) To assess the quality and usage of the available mastitis treatment
4) To suggest contol measures for mastitis
Activities
Activity 3.1: Specific areas where the surveys will be conducted will be identified
Activity 3.2: The prevalence of mastitis and bacteria involved will be studied
Activity 3.3: The currently applied mastitis prevention measures will be evaluated
Activity 3.4: Recommendations to control mastitis will be developped

8. Rural component: Helminth diseases
Objectives
To understand the basic epidemiology of helminth infections in cattle in the Jimma zone
Activities
Training of topic leader at UGent on basic parasitological techniques
Visits to villages to identify where longitudinal studies could be initiated to determine prevalence and seasonal variations of helminth infections
Results
Study areas around Jimma identified
Faecal samples collected and examined: 47% of animals infected with gastro-intestinal parasites and/or liver fluke
Future work
Longitudinal studies in selected areas
Study importance of parasitic infections in rural and urban areas

9. Rural component: Livestock trypanosomiasis
Animal and Zoonotic diseases
Rural component: Livestock trypanosomiasis
Objectives
1. To collect baseline data on the prevalence and impact of trypanosomal infections in livestock in the various study sites with different trypanosomosis control history
2. To isolate trypanosome strains from cattle in the various study sites in the Jimma region and determine their level of resistance (trypanocidal drug reference centre)
3. To conduct a questionnaire survey to evaluate the ongoing trypanocidal drug use practices in the various study sites in the Jimma region
4. Develop appropriate trypanosomosis control strategies
Activities
Activity 2.1. Collect baseline data
Activity 2.2. Identify study sites (3), based on epidemiological setting
Activity 2.3. Determine prevalence and impact of trypanosomal infections
Activity 2.4. Isolate trypanosome strains from cattle and determine susceptiblity
Activity 2.5. Conduct drug use survey
Activity 2.6. Analyse survey data and develop control strategies

11. Belay DUGUMA Yisehak KECHERO Geert JANSSENS
Project 1: Zoonotic and Animal Diseases
Animal Nutrition Team
Belay DUGUMA Yisehak KECHERO Geert JANSSENS
IUC-JU North meeting, Oct. 8, 2008

12. Main topics Rural component: Urban component:
Development of sustainable livestock feeding around the Gilgel Gibe dam
Urban component:
Optimising urban dairy cow nutrition

13. Livestock feeding around the dam
Local perception of problems and identification of bottlenecks in view of seasonality
Questionnaire: 330 household in 5 distinct regions
Bio-mass estimations of feed resources
Determination of nutritional value of feed resources
Chemical analysis
Digestibility tests with local breeds
Evaluating in-the-field indicators of herd nutritional status
Faecal nitrogen fractions
Micromineral ratios
Saponins
Adjust the identified first limiting nutrients
Optimise existing rations through formulation
Promote production of specific crops that adjust nutrient deficiencies in a sustainable way regarding ecology and economy (to be further developed by multidisciplinary approach  increase cooperation with other teams)

14. Optimising urban dairy nutrition
Identify most important deficiencies
Questionnaire on feeding practices and animal performance
Analyse total rations for nutritional value and compare with nutrient requirements
Identify practical means to adjust deficiencies
Optimise use of by-products
Introduce new feed resources
Ration formulation
Improve rations to increase milk production and disease resistance
Measure milk production and its main composition
Measure inflammatory and mastitis parameters
Improve rations to increase nutritional quality of the milk (for infants  increase collaboration with Project 2)
Microminerals (Zn, Cu, Se, …)
Fatty acid profile

15. Problems
A major overall problem is the purchase of equipment. After one year the material ordered in Belgium has not yet arrived in Jimma.
Limited laboratory capability
Current research is mainly person-oriented (PhD projects)
Limited knowledge of the relevance of veterinary and zoonotic diseases and/or limited exploitation of available information (e.g. MSc and DVM theses)
Current research focus is descriptive rather than analytical
Irregular feed-back on research progress
Availability of transport for work in urban areas
For non-PhD students, the available time that can devoted to the research projects is limited
Recommendations
It should be better explored what material can be purchased locally (Jimma & especially Addis Ababa
To increase the number of Belgian scientists/technicians supporting the establishment and activities of the laboratories at the Veterinary School
To complete construction work at the Veterinary School so that a parasitological laboratory can be established in the new building
Establish team-oriented research approach
Meta-analysis of available studies performed in the region and determine relevant research priorities
To establish a reporting format and schedule and organise an annual scientific (progress) meeting between Belgian and Ethiopian researchers
To purchase two motorbikes (locally) to support activities of the urban component of the project
The Jimma University policy should allow non-registered students to devote time to the research projects of the Veterinary Project of the IUC
To organise a meeting between Belgian collaborators of the veterinary project and between Belgian scientists of the various IUC projects to brief on project activities and exchange ideas

16. Further discussion is necessary …