Lewyt College of Veterinary Medicine

ABOUT

Reta Duguma Abdi, DVM, PhD

Assistant Professor

Email: Reta.Abdi@liu.edu

Dr Reta Duguma Abdi received his Veterinary Degree from Addis Ababa University (Ethiopia) in 2001. He holds a MSc from the Institute of Tropical Medicine (Belgium) and a PhD from the University of Ghent (Belgium). He joined the College of Veterinary Medicine at Addis Ababa University as a Lecturer in 2006 and advanced through the academic ranks to Associate Professor in 2015. Prior to joining the College of Veterinary Medicine at Long Island University, he was a Post-doctoral fellow at the Institute of Agriculture, University of Tennessee.

Dr Abdi’s research focuses on the understanding of the epidemiology, clonal diversity, virulence production and antimicrobial resistant (AMR) patterns of infectious disease pathogens, and identification of the vaccine components produced by these pathogens particularly on their conserved surface proteins and novel vaccination strategies. Zoonotic and livestock infectious diseases are caused by diverse and highly evolving pathogens. Virulent and AMR strains evolve consistently due to selective pressure of herd immunization, antimicrobial use, acquisition of mobile genetic elements and spontaneous mutation. The emergence and spread of such strains are a significant global concern as they impact animal and public health, and food safety. Using molecular epidemiology tools, Dr Abdi investigates key pathogens and host factors involved in initiation of disease pathogenesis, persistence, progression and spread of pathogens and the AMR strains in individuals and population with the aim of identifying diagnostic and prognostic markers, therapeutic and vaccine targets. The overall goal of his research is to contribute to the control and prevention of infectious diseases, enhance food safety and mitigation of AMR towards the alleviation of animal and human suffering.

Publications - (selected manuscripts)

  • Harshul Singh, Bryan Gibb, Reta D Abdi. Abundance and diversity of methicillin-resistant bacteria from surfaces of bathrooms at workplaces by CHROMagar media, 16S, and dnaJ gene sequence typing. International Journal of Molecular Epidemiology and Genetics. 15(2): DOI: 10.62347/EJQK3362
  • Fikru Gizaw, Tolera Kekeba, Fikadu Teshome, Matewos Kebede, Tekeste Abreham, Halefom Hishe Berhe, Dinka Ayana, Bedaso Mammo Edao, Hika Waktole, Takele Beyene Tufa, Fufa Abunna, Ashenafi Feyisa Beyi, and Reta Duguma Abdi. 2023. Multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains thrive in dairy and beef production, processing, and supply lines in five geo-graphical areas in Ethiopia. Veterinary Sciences. 10(12), 663; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10120663. 
  • Fanta D. Gutema, Lieven De Zutter, Denis Piérard, Bruno Hinckel, Hideo Imamura, Geertrui Rasschaert, Reta D. Abdi, Getahun E. Agga, Florence Crombé (2023). Core Genome Sequencing Analysis of E. coli O157:H7 Unravelling Genetic Relatedness among Strains from Cattle, Beef, and Humans in Bishoftu, Ethiopia. Microbiol. Res. 14(1), 148-160; https://www.mdpi.com/2036-7481/14/1/13. 
  • Alemu YF, Jemberu WT, Mekuriaw Z, Abdi RD 2022. Incidence and predictors of calf morbidity and mortality from birth to 6-months of age in dairy farms of Northwestern Ethiopia. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2022;9. 10.3389/fvets.2022.859401.
  • Gutema FD, Agga GE, Abdi RD, Alemnesh Jufare, Duchateau L, De Zutter L, Gabriël S, 2021. Assessment of hygienic practices in beef slaughterhouses and retail shops in Bishoftu, Ethiopia: Implications for public health. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18(5), 2729; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052729.
  • Gutema FD, Rasschaert G, Agga GE, Merera O, Duguma AB, Abdi RD, Duchateau L, Mattheus W, Gabriël S, De Zutter L 2021. Prevalence, molecular characteristics, and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella in cattle, beef, and humans in Bishoftu town, Ethiopia. Foodborne Pathogens and Diseases 18 (4) https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/fpd.2020.2869.
  • Abdi RD, Gillespie BE, Ivey S, Pighetti GM, Almeida RA, Kerro Dego O. 2021. Antimicrobial resistance of major bacterial pathogens from dairy cows with high somatic cell count and clinical mastitis. Animals, 11(1), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010131.
  • Gutema FD, Yohannes GW, Abdi RD, Abuna F, Ayana D, Waktole H, Amenu K, Hiko A, Agga GE. Dipylidium caninum infection in dogs and humans in Bishoftu Town, Ethiopia. Diseases. 2021; 9(1):1. https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9721/9/1/1
  • Gutema FD, Rasschaert G, Agga GE, Jufare A, Duguma AB, Abdi RD, Duchateau L, Crombe F, Gabriël S, De Zutter L (2020). Occurrence, molecular characteristics, and antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli O157 in cattle, beef, and humans in Bishoftu town, Central Ethiopia. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease.  https://doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2020.2830.
  • Gutema FD, Shiberu T, Agga GE, Abdi RD, Hiko A, Tufa TB, Hailu Y (2020). Bovine cysticercosis and human taeniasis in a rural community in Ethiopia. Zoonoses and Public Health 67: 525– 533. https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.12716.
  • Vaughn JM, Abdi RD, Gillespie BE, Kerro Dego O (2020). Genetic diversity and virulence characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus isolate from cases of bovine mastitis. Microbial Pathogenesis, 144:104171 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104171.
  • Gizaw F, Kekeba T, Teshome F, Kebede M, Abreham T, Hayishe H, Waktole H, Tufa TB, Edao BM, Ayana D Abunna F, Beyi AF, Abdi RD (2020). Distribution and antimicrobial resistance profile of coagulase-negative Staphylococci from cattle, equipment, and personnel on dairy farm and abattoir settings. Heliyon, 6(3):e03606 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03606.
  • Fanta Desissa Gutema, Geathun Ejeta Agga, Lieven De Zutter, Reta D. Abdi, Sarah Gabriël, Luc Duchateau 2018. Prevalence and diversity of Salmonellaserotypes in cattle: systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Veterinary Science.https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00102
  • Alemu, B., Gari, G., Libeau, G., Kwiatek, O., Kidane, M., Belayneh, R., Siraw, B., Wieland, B., Asfaw, W. and Abdi, R.D., 2019. Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Peste des petits ruminants virus circulating in small ruminants in eastern Amhara region, Ethiopia. BMC Veterinary Research 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-019-1828-6
  • Weldegebrial G. Aregawi, Getahun E. Agga, Abdi RD, Büscher P. 2019. Systematic review and meta-analysis on the global distribution, host range, and prevalence of Trypanosoma evansi. Parasites & Vectors, 12:67 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-019-3311-4.
  • Weldegebrial G. Aregawi, Getahun E. Agga, Jemal Gishe, Reta D. Abdi 2018. Seroprevalence and participatory epidemiology of camelpox in Afar region of Ethiopia. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 161, 25-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.10.003.
  • Duguma, R., Agga, G.E., Aregawi, W.G., Bekana, M., Van Leeuwen, T., Delespaux, V. & Duchateau, L. (2017). A systematic review and meta-analysis of trypanosome prevalence in tsetse flies. BMC Veterinary Research, https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-017-1012-9
  • Duguma, R., Tasew, S., Olani, A., Damena, D., Alemu. D., Mulatu, T., Alemayehu, Y., Yohannes, M., Bekana, M., Hoppenheit, A., Abatih, E., Habtewold, T., Delespaux, V. & Duchateau, L. (2015). A study of the spatial distribution of Glossina sp. and Trypanosoma sp. in south-western Ethiopia. Parasites and Vectors, 8, 430. https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-015-1041-9
  • Zewdu, E., Tesfamaryam, G., Yenus H.A., Duguma, R., Tilahun, G., Di Marco, V. & Vitale, M. (2015). Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in free-range chickens (Gallus domesticus) of Central Ethiopia. Epidemiology and Infection, 143(03), 608-617. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24763135
  • Kumsa, B., Signorini, M., Sori, T., Tessarinn, C., Duguma, R., Ayana D., Martini, M. & Cassini, R. (2014). Molecular detection of piroplasms in ixodid ticks infesting cattle and sheep in western Oromia, Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 46, 27–31. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23846769
  • Zewdu, E., Tesfamaryam, G., Duguma, R., Tilahun, G., Di Marco, V. & Vitale, M. (2014). Majority of T. gondii seropositive chickens (Gallus domesticus) in Central Ethiopia carries the infective parasite. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 56, 60. https://actavetscand.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13028-014-0060-4

Antimicrobial Resistance 

  • Reta D. Abdi and Oudessa Kerro Dego 2019. Antimicrobial Activity of Persecaria pensylvanicum Extract Against Staphylococcus aureus. European Journal of Integrative Medicine(In press: EUJIM_2019_67_R2).
  • Messele, Y.E., Abdi, R.D., Tegegne, D.T., Bora, S.K., Babura, M.D., Emeru, B.A. and Werid, G.M., 2018. Analysis of milk-derived isolates of E. coli indicating drug resistance in central Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, pp.1-7. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11250-018-1737-x
  • Abdi, R. D., Vaughn, J., Merrill, C., Gillespie, B. E., Almeida, R. A., Headrick, S. I., Pighetti, G. M., Oliver, S. P. & O. Kerro Dego 2018. Antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from dairy cows and genetic diversity of resistant isolates. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/fpd.2017.2362
  • Messele, Y. E., Abdi, R., Yalew, S. T., Tegegne, D. T., Emeru, E. A. & Werid, G. M. (2017). Molecular determination of antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli isolated from raw meat in Addis Ababa and Bishoftu, Ethiopia. Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobialshttps://ann-clinmicrob.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12941-017-0233-x
  • Abdi, R. D., Mengstie, F., Beyi, A. F., Beyene, T., Waktole, H., Mamo, B., Ayana, D. & Abunna, F. (2017). Determination of the sources and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella isolated from the poultry industry in southern Ethiopia. BMC Infectious Diseases, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28521744
  • Beyene, T., Hayishe, H., Gizaw, F., Waktole, H., Abunna, F., Beyi, A. F., Mamo, B., Ayana, D. & Duguma, R. (2017). Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profile of Staphylococcus in dairy farms, abattoir and humans in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. BMC Research Notes, https://bmcresnotes.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13104-017-2487-y
  • Tessema, F., Abunna, F., Duguma, R., Beyene, T., Bihonegn, A., Worku, T., Adugna, B. & Almazu, M. (2016). Drug resistance pattern of Staphylococcus in poultry in Central and Southern Ethiopia. Global Journal of Science Frontier Research (D), 16 (2), 30-36. http://www.journalofscience.org/index.php/GJSFR/article/view/1749

Whole-cell or proteins for vaccine or diagnostic tool 

  • O. Kerro Dego, R. A. Almeida, A. M. Saxton, R. D. Abdi, D. B. Ensermu and S. P. Oliver 2017. Bovine Intramammary Infection Associated Immunogenic Surface Proteins of Streptococcus uberis. Microbial Pathogenesis. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0882401017311403
  • Abera, B., Lynch, S., Duguma, R., Dessie, T., Bettridge, J., Wigley, P. & Christley, R. (2017). Immunogenicity of the Newcastle disease virus vaccine La Sota, in introduced birds under intensive and extensive management conditions. Livestock Research for Rural Development, Volume 29, Article #110. http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd29/6/emus29110.html
  • Berhe, K., Weldeselassie, G., Bettridge, J., Christley, R. & Abdi, R. D. (2017). Small ruminant pasteurellosis in Tigray region, Ethiopia: marked serotype diversity may affect vaccine efficacy. Epidemiology and Infection, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28112054
  • Tadios, H., Reta, D., Dawud, I. & Wondemeneh, E. (2016). On station evaluation of thermo-stable Newcastle disease vaccine. Global Journal of Science Frontier Research(D), https://globaljournals.org/GJSFR_Volume16/8-On-Station-Evaluation.pdf
  • Duguma, R., Amsalu, K., Merera, O., Asfaw, Y., Gelaye, E., Yami, M. & Sori, T. (2016). Serological response and protection level evaluation in chickens exposed to grains coated with I2 Newcastle disease virus for effective oral vaccination of village chickens. BMC Veterinary Research, 12(1), 150. https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-016-0785-6
  • Caljon, G., Duguma, R., De Deken, R., Schauvliege, S., Gasthuys, F., Duchateau, L. & Van Den Abbeele, J. (2014). Serological responses and biomarker evaluation in mice and pigs exposed to tsetse fly bites. PLoS Neglected Tropical Disease, 8(5), e2911. http://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0002911
  • Tilahun, Z., Berecha, B., Simenew, K. & Reta, D. (2014).Towards effective vaccine production: A controlled field trial on the immunological response of three lumpy skin disease vaccine strains in dairy farms. Academic Journal of Animal Diseases. http://www.idosi.org/ajad/3(3)14/1.pdf