Temporal And Spatial Distribution Of Common Bacterial Livestock Disease Outbreaks In North Gondar Ethiopia

Aretrospective longitudinal study was conducted from November 2013 to April 2014 to assess the spatial and temporal distribution of major bacterial livestock disease outbreaks and to identify risk factors in selected districts of North Gondar. The data were extracted from monthly and annual reports of the period of 2009 to 2013 from the Veterinary Services. The data were analyzed in relation to temporal and spatial factors. Of the total 254 outbreaks 132 were due to anthrax 61 of blackleg 33 of bovine pasteurellosis and 28 ofovine pasteurellosis. Highest and lowest number of outbreak were registered in the years 2010 22.44 and 2013 15.74 and during spring 29.52 and summer 19.29 seasons respectively. Outbreaks of anthrax followed by blackleg were the most frequent outbreak recorded diseases. The highest number ofoutbreak of anthrax 40 of 132 30.30 was recorded in winter with peak in February. The highest outbreak of blackleg 33 54.09 of 61 was recorded in spring with peak in October and of bovine pasteurellosis 14 42.42 of 33 outbreaks was recorded in winter with peak in February. The highest outbreak of ovine pasteurellosis 10 35.71 of 28 was recorded in winter with peak in January. The highest and lowest numbers of outbreak were recorded in midland 54.00 and highland 14.17 agro ecology respectively. Outbreak occurrence of the diseases follow relatively similar pattern of spatial distribution in respect to agro ecology. Whereas the temporal distribution point of view anthrax and blackleg follows opposite patterns of occurrence but bovine and ovine pasteurellosis follow similar patterns of occurrence in both temporal and spatial distribution. Generally lowest numbers of outbreak were recorded during the season of summer and within the agro ecology of highland. The study indicated that occurrence of outbreak had been affected by temporal and spatial factor. Therefore animal owners and animal health service providers should give more emphasis to implementation of control and prevention measures in spring and winter seasons and for midland agro ecological regions to prevent occurrence of disease outbreaks in their animals in the study area.