非洲主要国家竹种资源与利用

非洲是世界第3大竹资源分布区，竹资源量仅次于亚洲和拉丁美洲。东部非洲的埃塞俄比亚、肯尼亚等国家的竹种资源比较单一，以高地竹和低地竹为主；南部非洲的马达加斯加、中部非洲的喀麦隆和西部非洲的尼日利亚等国家竹种资源较为丰富。埃塞俄比亚、尼日利亚、喀麦隆、马达加斯加、刚果、莫桑比克、塞内加尔、加纳的竹林面积位居非洲前列。非洲竹资源加工利用主要以传统产品为主，现代加工水平不高，竹产品进出口水平有限。近年来，非洲主要竹资源分布国的竹产业战略与政策发展以及国际合作日渐活跃并取得积极进展。文章分析了非洲21个国家的竹资源及利用现状，以期为开发利用非洲竹资源提供参考。     

Geomorphological evolution and present-day processes in the Dessie Graben (Wollo,Ethiopia)

This paper presents a detailed geomorphological overview of the landforms and processes characterizing the Dessie basin, a small graben located on the western Afar Margin (Ethiopia), which is a physiographic province characterized by small, closed basins and mountain ranges produced by regional extension. Large-scale geomorphological survey and mapping of the basin allowed to point out the noteworthy morphodynamic role of the present-day slope processes, including numerous landslides of different typology and size. These processes heavily interact with the built-up area of Dessie town, one of the most important cities of Ethiopia with ca. 200,000 inhabitants, which occupies a large part of the basin floor. The potential incidence of landslides of different typology in the basin and their possible impact on the urban settlement are put in relation with the distribution of the different landform units which make up the basin surface.     

Plant community and ecological analysis of woodland vegetation in Metema Area, Amhara National Regional State, Northwestern Ethiopia

We studied woodland vegetation in broad-leaved deciduous woodlands of Metema in northwestern Amhara regional state,Ethiopia to determine plant community types and species distribution patterns and their relationships with environmental variables,including altitude,pH,cation exchange capacity,electrical conductivity(EC),and moisture.We used a selective approach with a systematic sampling design.A total of 74 quadrats,each 25m × 25m at intervals of 150 200 m were sampled along the established transect lines.For herbaceous vegetation and soil data collection,five subquadrats each 1m × 1m were established at the four corners and the center of each quadrat.Three community types were identified using TWINSPAN analysis.All three community types showed high diversity(Shannon-Weiner index),the highest in community type II at 3.55.The highest similarity coefficient was 0.49(49%) between community types II and III,reflecting 0.51(51%) dissimilarity in their species richness.The canonical correspondence ordination diagram revealed that the distribution pattern of community type I was explained by moisture while that of community types III and II was explained by EC and altitude and moisture,respectively.Altitude was the most statistically significant environmental variable,followed by moisture and EC in determining the total variation in species composition and distribution patterns while pH and cation exchange capacity were non significant.In conclusion,we recommend that any intervention should take into account these three discrete community types and their environmental settings to make the intervention more successful.     

Studies on the Respiratory Disease ‘Sonbobe’ in Camels in the Eastern Lowlands of Ethiopia

New epidemics of respiratory disease have caused 29.6 morbidity and 6.4% mortality in camels in the Somalia region of Ethiopia. The major clinical signs observed were fever of 40–41.5°C, depression, cough, loss of appetite and a watery nasal discharge that became mucopurulent at a later stage. Finally, the camel became recumbent and extended its neck straight along the ground. Some of the animals died within 8–9 days. The major post-mortem lesions were hydrothorax, adhesion of the lung to the thorax, red and grey hepatization, emphysema, hydropericardium and fibrinous pericarditis. A treatment trial indicated that oxytetracycline was more effective than a combination of penicillin and streptomycin, the results showing a significant difference (p>0.05) between the treated and control groups. The bacteria isolated from lung, thoracic fluid and whole blood were Pasteurella haemolytica. Further studies on the epidemiology of this disease, the identification of the serotypes involved, and the demonstration of any primary viral initiating agent are recommended to allow the development of preventive methods.     

Gross and microscopic pulmonary lesions of camels from Eastern Ethiopia

Camels are important animals for pastoralists in the northeastern, eastern, southeastern and southern parts of Ethiopia. This paper reports on abattoir study of respiratory lesions in 104 adult camels at the Dire Dawa abattoir (88 male and 16 female). The study showed 98% of the examined lungs had one or more lesions. The most common lesions were pulmonary fibrosis (50.00%), pneumoconiosis (34.62%), hydatid cyst (30.80%), pulmonary abscess (3.85%) and parasitic bronchopneumonia (0.96%). The distribution of pneumoconiosis and hydatid cyst varied significantly (p < 0.05) among different lobes, the highest being seen in the caudal lobe. For the different lesions there was no significant (p > 0.05) difference in distribution among male and female camels. Possible explanations for the occurrence of the lesions are discussed. And recommendations forecasted are made.     

Occurrence of mastitis and associated risk factors in lactating goats under pastoral management in Borana,Southern Ethiopia

Mastitis prevalence and related risk factors were studied in 1,072 udder halves of 536 lactating goats from October, 2008 to February, 2009. Clinical and subclinical mastitis were prevalent in 4.3% (95% CI = 2.8, 6.5) and 11.2% (95% CI = 8.7, 14.3) of the studied animals, respectively, resulting in an overall prevalence of 15.5% (95% CI = 12.6, 18.9). Univariate analysis of the potential risk factors has depicted that mastitis was more prevalent in does with previous mastitis history, increased parity, poor body conditions, increased milk production, late lactation stage, long teat, and housed goats. Furthermore, prevalence was significantly higher (p < 0.05) during the wet period of October to November than the dry periods of January to February. No significant variations (p > 0.05) were observed in mastitis prevalence with udder tick infestation, mixing goat with sheep and flock size. With multivariable analysis, lactation stage, teat length, body condition, and season (wet months) have showed significant association with mastitis prevalence, and these factors maintained significant in the stepwise elimination of multivariable logistic regression model. As a result, does in late stage of lactation (OR = 4.3, 1.8, 10.4), poor body condition (OR = 5.0, 1.7, 10.0), long teats (OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.1, 4.2) and does examined in wet period were at higher risk of udder infections than early lactation, good body condition, short teat, and examined in dry period, respectively. The study showed occurrence of mastitis and associated risk factors in studied goats, which suggests the need for control intervention. Further investigations into pathogens involved in goat mastitis will optimize our knowledge of causative agents and control interventions.     

Variation and association of morphological and biochemical characters in grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.)

Fifty grass pea land race populations of Ethiopia that were selected based on administrative regions and different altitude classes were used in this study to determine variability in morphological characters, Oxalyl Diamino Propanoic acid(ODAP) – a causative agent of lathyrism, and protein contents and their associations. Highly significant differences were observed among the populations for most of the morphological characters. Populations collected from Gondar region and the higher altitude group (>2550 m) showed the highest mean and coefficient of variation indicating the presence of high genetic diversity in this region and altitude group. ODAP analysis from single plants showed significant variation both within a population and between populations. Four individual plants with low ODAP contents ranging from 0.149% to 0.182% (range within safe level) were identified in populations collected from different regions, indicating the diversity and variation of this trait with in one population and between regions. These low ODAP lines are considered important for further breeding. The association of ODAP with grain yield, biomass, plant height and seed size was negative, suggesting that the selection of tall and late maturing varieties with large seed size and high grain yield potential will enable the development of varieties with low ODAP content. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.