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Home / Equine Research Bank / Heliyon / Prevalence and risk factors of epizootic lymphangitis in car...
Heliyon2022; 8(8); e09939; doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09939

Prevalence and risk factors of epizootic lymphangitis in cart pulling horses and mules in Central and South Gondar zones, Amhara region, Ethiopia.

Abstract: Epizootic lymphangitis (EZL) is a chronic, contagious disease of equids caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum var. farciminosum. The disease is often prevalent in cart pulling equids in developing countries. This study was undertaken in Central and South Gondar zones of Amhara region, Ethiopia with the objectives of estimating the prevalence of EZL in cart pulling horses and mules and identifying the risk factors of the disease. Two towns, one high altitude and one mid altitude, from each of the two zones were included for the study. A total of 528 cart pulling horses and mules from the selected towns were examined clinically, screened by physical examination based on clinical signs of the disease and confirmed by microscopic mycological examination of the causative agent. Potential risk factors data were collected through observation of cart animals and interviewing of cart owners and were statistically evaluated using mixed effect logistic regression. An overall EZL prevalence of 12.5% (95% CI: 9.9-15.6%) was found. The prevalence was 19.9% (95% CI: 15.8-24.8%) in horses and 5.8% (95% CI: 2.4-13.2%) in mules. The disease was prevalent in mid altitude towns but was not detected in high altitude cold towns of the study zones. The risk factor analysis revealed that sharing of harness, mingling of cart animals in cart stations, communal housing and pre-existing trauma wound were risk factors of EZL in cart pulling horses and mules. The study generally indicated that EZL is a prevalent problem in mid altitude towns that endangers the livelihood of the cart owners and wellbeing of cart pulling equids. This warrants the initiation of a control strategy mainly focusing on improving management of cart pulling equids related to the identified risk factors to ameliorate the EZL problem in the study area.
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Publication Date: 2022-07-19 PubMed ID: 35928106PubMed Central: PMC9343934DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09939Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article centers on the investigation of the prevalence and risk factors of epizootic lymphangitis, a contagious fungal disease, in cart-pulling horses and mules in specified regions of Ethiopia. The study aimed to estimate disease prevalence and identify risk factors in order to inform control strategies.

Introduction and Objective

  • The research focused on studying epizootic lymphangitis (EZL), a contagious disease affecting horses and mules. This disease, caused by a specific fungus, is prevalent amongst cart-pulling horses and mules, particularly in developing countries.
  • The geographic focus of the research was the Central and South Gondar zones in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. The specific aim was to estimate the prevalence of EZL in these regions and identify the risk factors associated with the disease’s spread.

Methodology

  • Four towns — two in high-altitude areas and two in mid-altitude regions — were selected for the study. In total, 528 horses and mules plied in these regions were examined for EZL.
  • The animals were clinically examined, initially screened based on the physical signs of EZL. Confirmation of the disease was achieved through a microscopic mycological examination.
  • Data regarding potential risk factors were collected through direct observation of the animals and interviews with cart owners. These data were analyzed using mixed-effect logistic regression.

Findings

  • The researchers found an overall prevalence of EZL at 12.5% in the examined population. The breakdown between species indicated a higher prevalence in horses (19.9%) than in mules (5.8%).
  • The disease was identified in the mid-altitude towns but was absent from the high-altitude, colder towns being studied.
  • The identified risk factors contributing to the spread of EZL included shared harness equipment, congregation of animals in cart stations, communal housing environments, and existing trauma wounds.

Conclusion and Recommendations

  • The study concluded that EZL is a prevalent problem in mid-altitude Ethiopian towns, with serious risks posed to the livelihoods of the cart owners and the wellbeing of the animals.
  • Control strategies, particularly focusing on improving the animal management practices related to the identified risk factors, were recommended as a means to reduce the EZL problem in the examined region.

Cite This Article

APA
Molla AM, Jemberu WT, Fentahun T. (2022). Prevalence and risk factors of epizootic lymphangitis in cart pulling horses and mules in Central and South Gondar zones, Amhara region, Ethiopia. Heliyon, 8(8), e09939. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09939

Publication

Heliyon
ISSN: 2405-8440
NlmUniqueID: 101672560
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 8
Issue: 8
Pages: e09939

Researcher Affiliations

Molla, Amsalu Misgie
  • College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Debre Tabor University, P. O. Box 272, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia.
Jemberu, Wudu Temesgen
  • International Livestock Research Institute, P.O. Box 5689, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
  • College of Veterinary Medicine and Animals Sciences, University of Gondar, P. O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Fentahun, Tewodros
  • College of Veterinary Medicine and Animals Sciences, University of Gondar, P. O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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