http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/1828 2001-01-13T06:37:25Z http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/16857 The Effect Of Riverbed Substrate Compositions On Benthic Macroinvertebrate Diversity In Infranz River North Western Ethiopia Melese, Molla This study aimed to identify the distribution and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates at Infranze River, Amhara region, Ethiopia. Benthic macro invertebrates were collected between 10-18November 2020 from three stations located at upstream, midstream and downstream of the river. Benthic macro invertebrates were collected by using Kik net with 500 micron mesh size combined with a rectangular quadrate with the size of 30 cm x 30 cm. Benthic macro invertebrates and physicochemical parameters of water were recorded from 39 sampling sites along Infranz River that represent the different geomorphologic zones such as mountainous (n=11), transitional (n=16), and floodplain zone (n=12). A total of 867 macro invertebrates from 20 orders and 51 families were collected. The results indicate that the study area was primarily dominated by the order Odonata, which comprises predatory flying insects, including dragonflies and damselflies, with a count of 314 individuals. However, Hemeptera was the most diverse with seven families as compared to odonata and epemeroptera. The diversity of benthic macro invertebrates were abundant at the transitional zone compared to the other two zones. This was due to higher anthropogenic disturbances and less favorable environmental conditions for macro invertebrate populations. The correlation between benthic substrates was positive and significant for sand, mud, gravel, detritus and silt. The majority of individuals (202) were discovered in gravel, representing 32 families 2025-08-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/16856 Ethnobotanical Study Of Medicinal Plants Traditionally Used By The Local Community In Ambsel Distrect, South Wollo Zone, Ethiopia Destaw, Yimer This ethnobotanical study was conducted in Ambassel District, South Wollo Zone, Ethiopia, to document the diversity, traditional use, and conservation status of medicinal plants among the local community. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed, integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data were collected from 129 informants (including 21 key informants) selected through purposive and random sampling across eight kebeles, using semi-structured interviews, field observations, and questionnaires. The study identified 74 medicinal plant species belonging to 38 families, with Asteraceae and Fabaceae being the most represented. Most medicinal plants (60%) were sourced from wild habitats, while herbs constituted the dominant growth form (42%). Leaves were the most frequently used plant part (47%), and remedies were primarily prepared by crushing or pounding fresh materials and administered orally. Informant consensus was highest for dermal and digestive ailments, indicating strong shared knowledge and effective traditional remedies for these conditions.for these. Multipurpose species remedies such as Vachellia abyssinica and Cordia africana were highly valued but faced significant threats from agricultural expansion, charcoal production, and firewood collection, leading to habitat degradation. Knowledge transmission was mainly oral, predominantly from parents and elders to younger generations, making it vulnerable to erosion due to modernization and youth disinterest. Preference and direct matrix rankings highlighted the importance of species like Allium sativum, Vachellia abyssinica, and Cordia africana in local healthcare and livelihoods. The study concludes that urgent conservation measures are needed, including community awareness, sustainable harvesting, documentation of indigenous knowledge, and integration of traditional medicine into biodiversity conservation policies to safeguard both medicinal plant diversity and cultural heritage in Ambassel District. Recommendations include implementing community-based conservation, promoting awareness, systematic documentation, policy integration, and supporting alternative livelihoods to reduce pressure on wild resources 2025-08-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/16854 Epidemiology of Schistosoma mansoni Infection, Diagnosis and Treatment Efficacy of Praziquantel among School-Aged Children and Adults in Northwest Ethiopia Getaneh, Alemu Background: Despite many years of mass drug administration, Schistosoma mansoni remains endemic in Ethiopia.. Most prevalence studies rely on the less sensitive Kato-Katz (KK) technique, likely underestimating infection rates. Additionally, limited data on knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) hampers effective control efforts. Reports of reduced praziquantel (PZQ) efficacy exist, but comprehensive data is limited. Objective: To assess the epidemiology of S. mansoni infection in school-aged children (SACs) and adults, the performance of diagnostic methods, and the efficacy of PZQ across various transmission settings in northwest Ethiopia, from February to June 2023. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in seven districts among 1,192 participants, 634 SACs and 558 adults. Data on KAP, and associated factors were collected using a structured questionnaire. S. mansoni infection was diagnosed using KK and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) on stool samples, and the point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen (POC-CCA) test on urine samples. Diagnostic performance was evaluated using latent class analysis (LCA) and compared to KK. A school-based single-arm prospective cohort study was conducted to determine the PZQ efficacy. Accordingly, 130 SACs tested positive by both KK and POC-CCA at baseline were treated with 40 mg/kg PZQ (Biltricide®) and re-evaluated after three weeks to determine cure rate (CR) and egg reduction rate (ERR). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the prevalence, and logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with infection. Results: Of the 1,192 participants, 782 (65.6%) were infected with S. mansoni as determined by combined diagnostic tests - 452 (71.3%) SACs and 330 (59.1%) adults. Among 398 KK-positive samples, light, moderate and heavy infections accounted for 66.8%, 25.1%, and 8.0%, respectively. SACs exhibited higher mean egg counts than adults (147.95 vs. 96.61, p = 0.001). The KK method showed reduced sensitivity in low (54.6%) and moderate (67.0%) transmission areas, improving in high-endemic settings (88.6%) compared to LCA reference. In contrast, POC-CCA showed consistently high sensitivity (93.4 - 100%), though specificity declined in low (86.0%) and moderate (78.9%) transmission areas. Against KK, POC-CCA had high sensitivity (93.5%) and good negative predictive value (95.3%), but low specificity (62.5%). The RT-PCR showed strong sensitivity against KK (93.5%) and LCA (97.2%) with substantial agreement with LCA (κ = 0.75), but specificity dropped as endemicity increased VII (84.2% in low, 79.4% in moderate and 28.0% in high). Associated factors included urban residence, age 10-14, swimming habit, irrigation activity and lack of awareness in SACs, and male sex, age 18–30, barefoot water contact, swimming habit, irrigation activity and day labor in adults. Awareness of schistosomiasis was low (19.2%), and only a small proportion had good knowledge (7.9%), positive attitudes (13.1%) and safe practices (43.2%). Among 110 SACs who completed the PZQ efficacy study follow up, the KK-based CR was 88.2%, with a 93.5% ERR; cure was highest in light infections at baseline (p = 0.002). The CR based on POC-CCA test was 70.9% (t+) and 75.5% (t-). Adverse events occurred in 26 (23.6%) participants, all mild. Conclusions: A high prevalence of S. mansoni was observed in the study area. The KK method showed low sensitivity, particularly in low-transmission settings, while POC-CCA and RT-PCR performed well in all settings. A single dose of 40 mg/kg PZQ was effective and safe. The KAP levels were low both at school and community settings. Integrated control strategies - including health education, water, sanitation and hygiene, and sensitive diagnostics - are urgently needed. Adoption of the POC-CCA test is recommended to strengthen diagnosis and support schistosomiasis elimination in Ethiopia 2025-09-01T00:00:00Z http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/16812 Ecological Dynamics of Dry Evergreen Afromontane Forest Ecosystems Following Exclosures in the Northeastern Ethiopian Highlands Muche, Meseret In the Ethiopian highlands, more than 50% of the land area is covered by Afromontane vegetation, with dry evergreen Afromontane forests and grassland complex (DAFs) accounting for the largest coverage, most biodiverse, and centre of endemism. However, these forests have experienced extensive forest degradation due to various anthropogenic activities. The study sites belong to DAFs and characterized by rugged and mountainous terrain that have experienced significant degradation primarily by human-driven factors. In response, the Ethiopia government has initiated sustainable soil management strategies and vegetation restoration programs over the past decades to tackle these challenges. Therefore, this study was aimed at evaluating the role of forest exclosures in enhancing the status of woody species, soil quality, biomass accumulation, and the land use land cover (LULC) changes and the accompanying ecosystem services values (ESVs) in the dry evergreen Afromontane forests of the northeastern highlands. Three forest exclosure treatments, exclosure for ten years (EX10), twenty years (EX20), thirty years (EX30), and open woodland (OWL) as a control were purposively selected and used to gather woody species composition and structure, soil properties, and biomass accumulation data across two slope orientations. The study, further, assessed the impact of land use/land cover (LULC) changes from 1984 to 2021 on ecosystem service values (ESVs) in the region using satellite images. The findings showed that sixty-one woody species from 34 families were identified across the study areas. The study showed the positive influence of exclosures on density, basal area, and regeneration of woody species. However, no substantial changes were noted in diameter at breast height (DBH) and most functional traits. Nonetheless, both DBH and functional traits exhibited a gradual increasing trend with increasing exclosure ages. Similarly, soil quality improved over forest exclosure ages in that the soil exhibited an increased soil pH, organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorous (Av.P), and exchangeable bases. Six woody species community types were identified across the study sites. The results also demonstrated elevation and edaphic factors, including sand, soil bulk density, calcium, and soil pH as the most significant explanatory variables in shaping woody species community patterns. Accordingly, exclosure areas exhibited higher biomass accumulation and carbon storage compared with the open woodland area. In addition, structural equation models revealed DBH as a significant predictor of aboveground biomass. The findings showed a substantial increase in cultivated land and built-up areas, while forested areas and water bodies experienced significant declines, especially in the first phase between 1984 and 2001. These changes resulted in a dramatic decrease in ESVs from 54.4 million USD in the stipulated period. However, the status of forestland showed a marked improvement in the second phase as a result of the xv implementation of various sustainable forest restoration initiatives in the region. The findings of the present study highlighted the potential of exclosures-based forest restoration in enhancing the distribution of woody plant species, improving key indicator species, enriching soil properties, and fostering biomass accumulation. These findings underscored the urgent need for integrated land-use policies that prioritize biodiversity conservation and the sustainable management of ecosystem services amid ongoing land degradation. Furthermore, it calls for the establishment of comprehensive frameworks to mitigate deforestation and land degradation, providing a benchmark for assessing the progress toward national forest restoration targets by 2030. Ultimately, such efforts have the potential of dual benefits of improving local livelihoods while ensuring long-term ecosystem stewardship and resilience 2025-07-01T00:00:00Z