Bovine tb ethiopia ejhd special 2008

146 Ethiop.J.Health Dev.
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Working Group D - Diagnostic capacity and surveillance of zoonotic diseases in Ethiopia
Discussion leaders: Getachew Tilahun, Ahmed Bedru
Rapporteur: Stefan Berg
The group discussed surveillance and capacities established for zoonotic diseases in 1) humans and 2) animals
What is the status of diagnostic and surveillance capacity in Ethiopia for zoonotic diseases?
(The workgroup made an inventory of the different institutions responsible for the zoonotic diseases in both animals
and humans):
In Ethiopia, there is a task force in place with representatives from Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture.
This task force is currently only dealing with a few diseases, but it should be used as a spring point to cover all
diseases that are threatening to human and animal health in Ethiopia.
“The status” regarding humans:
The Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI) is the reference centre for several of the zoonotic
diseases but additional institutions, like Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), are partially complementing
EHNRI in its goals.
The country has several regional laboratories and hospitals that are dealing with zoonotic diseases, but the level of
diagnosis differs, such as in serological diagnosis of patients. Health centres represent the capacities on the local level
but they don't have the capacity in diagnosing zoonotic diseases.
“The status” regarding animals:
The National Animal Health and Disease Investigation Centre is responsible for all animal diseases, inclusive zoonotic
diseases. The National Veterinary Institute is an additional institution that is responsible for vaccine production, but
also diagnostics and surveillance of animal diseases (including those of zoonotic importance). Under these two federal
institutions serve 12 laboratories on the regional level.
Additional institutions, like AHRI, carry limited capacities regarding diagnostics and surveillance of zoonotic diseases
in animals.
The laboratories "set up” for zoonotic diseases:
Institutions exist at national and regional levels for most diseases, but only a few are involved in the majority of the
zoonotic diseases in Ethiopia. One such disease is Brucellosis, which is a very serious problem, but there are no
facilities for its diagnosis in Ethiopia. Institutions at federal level are better equipped than labs at regional level. There
are a very few laboratories where disease organisms (e.g. bovine TB) can be cultured and isolated for strain
characterization and for research purposes Such as EHNRI, AHRI and Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology.
The majority of the regional laboratories have only a basic setup (building facilities, staff and basic equipments).
Among the regional hospitals there are no hospitals that have a setup for TB diagnostics for culture and sensitivity. In
a comparison between laboratories and hospitals, the regional hospitals have less capacity than the regional
laboratories in case of diagnostics and culturing of zoonotic disease, and with high turnover of staff. The local health
centres have less capacity than the regional hospitals. Some regions do not have a laboratory at all. In Gambella, there
is no regional laboratory and the four health centres are not doing TB diagnostics. Patient samples are instead often
sent to the hospital. However, the hospital in the Gambella region is not properly set up for doing TB diagnostics.
Therefore, quality assured diagnosis of TB is required.
What are the needs for improved diagnostic and surveillance capacity?
Federal institutions: Capacity and capability have to be established in reference laboratories to the extent that the
current state-of-the art can be introduced or strengthened. This can be done by reinforcement in equipment and trained
staff.
Regional laboratories: The basic level has to be raised so all regional laboratories have the capability for culturing and
sensitivity testing of zoonotic diseases. For that purpose, training of staff, complementation of relevant equipment and
consumables (test kits etc.) are essential, as is set up of standard operating procedures for diagnostic tests. Set up does,
to some extent, exist for diagnosis of zoonotic diseases, but it needs to be properly used. In many laboratories around
the country, the situation can be dramatically improved just by providing basic and relatively inexpensive equipment
Ethiop.J.Health Dev 2008;22(Special Issue).