Melaku Tefera - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Melaku Tefera
Ethiopian Veterinary Journal, 2011
The objective of this study was to evaluate a non animal teaching model referred as surgical dumm... more The objective of this study was to evaluate a non animal teaching model referred as surgical dummy, for teaching surgery, to novice veterinary students. Students' confidence level and experience in surgical practice was evaluated via questionnaire. In addition student observation was done during the practices by the instructor. The results show that students who first practiced using the surgical dummy had better psychomotor and basic surgical skills. Comments made by the students were positive in relation to sensation of tissue during handling rated as natural. Their confidence increased during surgical procedure due to freedom from worry of consequences of surgical errors. Students had the opportunity to practice adlibitum as the dummy was economical and simple to make. The skill gained in the dummy was adaptable to live animal surgery and decreased the use of cadaver or live animal utilization.
This study evaluates the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the crude extract of an aeri... more This study evaluates the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the crude extract of an aerial part of Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. The dried aerial part of S. punctata (Benth.) Briq was extracted separately using aqueous, ethanol and n-hexane. The antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was assessed using disc diffusion method, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extracts were determined by the agar dilution method. The radical scavenging activity of the extracts was evaluated by DPPH assay. The result indicated that the aqueous and ethanol extracts exhibited significant antibacterial activities on the test microorganisms. The antibacterial activity of 600 mg/ml aqueous extract as measured by inhibition zones against S. aureus was 10.33±0.25 mm, E. coli 9.83±0.19 mm and P. aeruginosa 8.53±0.12 mm. The 600 mg/ml ethanol extract inhibited through zone of inhibitio...
Biodiversity and Conservation, 2003
A study was conducted to describe the physical characteristics and the reproductive performances ... more A study was conducted to describe the physical characteristics and the reproductive performances of the Addis Ababa Zoo lions. Length from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail, tail length and height at withers were 255 ± 15, 105 ± 11, and 110 ± 7 cm for adult males (n = 8), and 236 ± 11, 94 ± 10, and 98 ± 8 cm for adult females (n = 8), respectively. The lions had dark brown manes extending down the chest through the front legs, down the back below the shoulders and the length of the belly through the groin; the mane that surrounds the face was golden and the eyes have clear light irises. These characteristics fit the description of the Barbary and Cape lions. The reproductive performances of the females were as follows: age at first parturition was 4 ± 0.5 years; litter size was 1.6 ± 0.9; gestation period was 115 ± 5 days; parturition interval was 25 ± 15 months; and pregnancy rate was 30 ± 16%; the duration of estrus was 5 ± 1.5 days. For the male the age at which the mane was fully grown was 3.6 ± 0.7; frequency of copulation was 16.5 ± 7.5 per day; the duration of copulation lasted 12.2 ± 9 s; and the refractory period was 50 ± 25 min. Mean preweaning, weaning to one year and adult mortalities were 55, 51 and 27%, respectively. Mean life expectancy was 12.8 years for the female while for the male it was 8.5 years. The causes of adult mortality appear to be senility, enteritis and pneumonia, while cub mortality is primarily due to maternal rejection. There is also a 100% prevalence rate of Toxocara cati. Further study on the genetics, causes of mortality and reintroduction to natural habitat is recommended.
Tropical Animal Health and Production, 2004
This study reports evidence of animal exploitation during the Axumite era based on a survey of ar... more This study reports evidence of animal exploitation during the Axumite era based on a survey of architectural features, rock art and artefacts recovered from the archaeological site at Axum, northern Ethiopia. Animals and agricultural tools were identified from materials not previously examined. Pottery, rock art and animal remains revealed a range of zoological species. Agricultural implements and sacrificial vessels also provided indirect evidence of animal exploitation. It is concluded that, in addition to plough-based agriculture, the hunting of large wild animals, such as elephants and lions, and the exploitation of domestic cattle, small ruminants and poultry were part of the Axumite subsistence regime. Although it is difficult to reconstruct an overall subsistence pattern based on this study alone, the physical and biological evidence suggests that the Axumites practised combined cultivation and animal herding. Further investigation is required to study the types and breeds of animals and their distribution in time and space.
Tropical Animal Health and Production, 2001
A study concerning performance traits of the Ethiopian camel indicated that, in the camel herds e... more A study concerning performance traits of the Ethiopian camel indicated that, in the camel herds examined, there was one active bull camel for 25 females. The bull camel was 5 years old at puberty; it reached rutting vigour at the age of 9 years, the number of mountings per day was 8 during the breeding season, and the reproduction span was 10 years. The female camel reached puberty at 4 years of age; the age at first calving was 5 years, and the lactation period was one year; the calving interval was 2 years, the calving rate was 50%, and the reproduction span was 10–15 years. The survival rate of the newborn calves was 50%. The average milk yield was 2.5 L per day; the price of camel's milk was higher than that of cow's milk at US$0.5. Adult camels weighed around 500 kg; the dressing-out percentage was 52%. Mutton was preferred to camel meat, which came second in popularity, costing US$2/kg. Owing to their poor reproductive performance, camels are not efficient for producing meat. The camels worked for 16 h per day, covering 60 km. Animal health problems encountered were trypanosomosis, camel pox, camel pustular dermatitis, camel cephalopsis, dermatomycosis, mange mite, tick infestation and balantidiosis, most of which mainly affected the young animals.
Ethiopian Veterinary Journal, 2011
The objective of this study was to evaluate a non animal teaching model referred as surgical dumm... more The objective of this study was to evaluate a non animal teaching model referred as surgical dummy, for teaching surgery, to novice veterinary students. Students' confidence level and experience in surgical practice was evaluated via questionnaire. In addition student observation was done during the practices by the instructor. The results show that students who first practiced using the surgical dummy had better psychomotor and basic surgical skills. Comments made by the students were positive in relation to sensation of tissue during handling rated as natural. Their confidence increased during surgical procedure due to freedom from worry of consequences of surgical errors. Students had the opportunity to practice adlibitum as the dummy was economical and simple to make. The skill gained in the dummy was adaptable to live animal surgery and decreased the use of cadaver or live animal utilization.
This study evaluates the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the crude extract of an aeri... more This study evaluates the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the crude extract of an aerial part of Satureja punctata (Benth.) Briq. The dried aerial part of S. punctata (Benth.) Briq was extracted separately using aqueous, ethanol and n-hexane. The antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was assessed using disc diffusion method, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extracts were determined by the agar dilution method. The radical scavenging activity of the extracts was evaluated by DPPH assay. The result indicated that the aqueous and ethanol extracts exhibited significant antibacterial activities on the test microorganisms. The antibacterial activity of 600 mg/ml aqueous extract as measured by inhibition zones against S. aureus was 10.33±0.25 mm, E. coli 9.83±0.19 mm and P. aeruginosa 8.53±0.12 mm. The 600 mg/ml ethanol extract inhibited through zone of inhibitio...
Biodiversity and Conservation, 2003
A study was conducted to describe the physical characteristics and the reproductive performances ... more A study was conducted to describe the physical characteristics and the reproductive performances of the Addis Ababa Zoo lions. Length from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail, tail length and height at withers were 255 ± 15, 105 ± 11, and 110 ± 7 cm for adult males (n = 8), and 236 ± 11, 94 ± 10, and 98 ± 8 cm for adult females (n = 8), respectively. The lions had dark brown manes extending down the chest through the front legs, down the back below the shoulders and the length of the belly through the groin; the mane that surrounds the face was golden and the eyes have clear light irises. These characteristics fit the description of the Barbary and Cape lions. The reproductive performances of the females were as follows: age at first parturition was 4 ± 0.5 years; litter size was 1.6 ± 0.9; gestation period was 115 ± 5 days; parturition interval was 25 ± 15 months; and pregnancy rate was 30 ± 16%; the duration of estrus was 5 ± 1.5 days. For the male the age at which the mane was fully grown was 3.6 ± 0.7; frequency of copulation was 16.5 ± 7.5 per day; the duration of copulation lasted 12.2 ± 9 s; and the refractory period was 50 ± 25 min. Mean preweaning, weaning to one year and adult mortalities were 55, 51 and 27%, respectively. Mean life expectancy was 12.8 years for the female while for the male it was 8.5 years. The causes of adult mortality appear to be senility, enteritis and pneumonia, while cub mortality is primarily due to maternal rejection. There is also a 100% prevalence rate of Toxocara cati. Further study on the genetics, causes of mortality and reintroduction to natural habitat is recommended.
Tropical Animal Health and Production, 2004
This study reports evidence of animal exploitation during the Axumite era based on a survey of ar... more This study reports evidence of animal exploitation during the Axumite era based on a survey of architectural features, rock art and artefacts recovered from the archaeological site at Axum, northern Ethiopia. Animals and agricultural tools were identified from materials not previously examined. Pottery, rock art and animal remains revealed a range of zoological species. Agricultural implements and sacrificial vessels also provided indirect evidence of animal exploitation. It is concluded that, in addition to plough-based agriculture, the hunting of large wild animals, such as elephants and lions, and the exploitation of domestic cattle, small ruminants and poultry were part of the Axumite subsistence regime. Although it is difficult to reconstruct an overall subsistence pattern based on this study alone, the physical and biological evidence suggests that the Axumites practised combined cultivation and animal herding. Further investigation is required to study the types and breeds of animals and their distribution in time and space.
Tropical Animal Health and Production, 2001
A study concerning performance traits of the Ethiopian camel indicated that, in the camel herds e... more A study concerning performance traits of the Ethiopian camel indicated that, in the camel herds examined, there was one active bull camel for 25 females. The bull camel was 5 years old at puberty; it reached rutting vigour at the age of 9 years, the number of mountings per day was 8 during the breeding season, and the reproduction span was 10 years. The female camel reached puberty at 4 years of age; the age at first calving was 5 years, and the lactation period was one year; the calving interval was 2 years, the calving rate was 50%, and the reproduction span was 10–15 years. The survival rate of the newborn calves was 50%. The average milk yield was 2.5 L per day; the price of camel's milk was higher than that of cow's milk at US$0.5. Adult camels weighed around 500 kg; the dressing-out percentage was 52%. Mutton was preferred to camel meat, which came second in popularity, costing US$2/kg. Owing to their poor reproductive performance, camels are not efficient for producing meat. The camels worked for 16 h per day, covering 60 km. Animal health problems encountered were trypanosomosis, camel pox, camel pustular dermatitis, camel cephalopsis, dermatomycosis, mange mite, tick infestation and balantidiosis, most of which mainly affected the young animals.