Epidemiology of Ovine Pasteurellosis in Lume District, East Shewa Zone of Oromiya Region, Ethiopia

The study of ovine pasteurellosis was conducted in Lume districts, East Shoa Zone of Oromia region, Ethiopia to determine the prevalence of M annheimia haemolytica , Pasteurella trehalosi and Pasteurella multocida from nasal swabs (384), abattoir specimens (145 ), and the serotype diversity among the species from sheep sera (150). A total of 115 isolates of M. haemolytica , P. treha losi and P. multocida were isolated from nasal swabs of apparently health and clinically sick sheep and from pneumonic lungs. The M. haemolytica, P. trehalosi and Pasteurella multocida were isolated from the nasal swabs (11.2%), (7.6%) and (2.1) respective ly, whereas M. haemolytica and P. trehalosi were isolated from pneumonic lungs (11.7%) , ( 10.3 ) respectively. However, Pasteurella multocida was the lowest among species isolated (2.1%). The overall isolation rate of M. haemolytica, P. trehalosi and Pasteurella multocida was 15.7%, 11.5% and 2.9%, respectively. From 145 lung samples collected and cultured, Pasteurella was isolated successfully in 35 (24.1%) sheep. Out of 35 sheep lung lesion sample, the percentage recovery rate of M. haemolytica 17(11 .7%), P. trehalose 15(10.3%) and P. multocida 3(2.1) % respectively. On the basis of these results, M. haemolytica and P.trehalose were the most common cause of pasteurellosis in sheep at the study area. A total of 150 sheep sera were examined for serotype specific antibodies using indirect haemagglutination test for M. haemolytica, P. trehalose and P. multocida serotypes. Variation in prevalence among the different serotypes was observed (P<0.001). The IHA test revealed that serotype A1, A2, A7, T3, T10, a nd T15 were the dominant serotypes with 23.3%, 42.6%, 32, 51.3, 29.3 and 30% positive by IHA whereas serotypes P. multocida biotype A and T4 were the least positive with 14.6% and16% respectively. Generally, both bacterial and serological results of this s tudy revealed that the causal agents of pasteurellosis are prevalent in the area, and serotypes A1, A2, A7, T3, T10 and T15 were dominant over the other serotypes.