Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Livestock Owners and Livestock Assistants towards African Trypanosomiasis Control in The Gambia

Background. In Africa, it has been estimated that 50 million cattle and 70 million sheep and goats are at risk of animal African trypanosomiasis, and three million cattle die annually. Methods. This study was conducted in all the regions of The Gambia except Kombo Saint Mary Island (Banjul). Structu...

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Main Authors: Alpha Kargbo, Edrisa Jawo, Amien Isaac Amoutchi, Herve Koua, Rex Kuye, Zainabou Dabre, Abdoulie Bojang, Rafael F. C. Vieira
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:Journal of Parasitology Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/3379804
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author Alpha Kargbo
Edrisa Jawo
Amien Isaac Amoutchi
Herve Koua
Rex Kuye
Zainabou Dabre
Abdoulie Bojang
Rafael F. C. Vieira
author_facet Alpha Kargbo
Edrisa Jawo
Amien Isaac Amoutchi
Herve Koua
Rex Kuye
Zainabou Dabre
Abdoulie Bojang
Rafael F. C. Vieira
author_sort Alpha Kargbo
collection DOAJ
description Background. In Africa, it has been estimated that 50 million cattle and 70 million sheep and goats are at risk of animal African trypanosomiasis, and three million cattle die annually. Methods. This study was conducted in all the regions of The Gambia except Kombo Saint Mary Island (Banjul). Structured questionnaires were administered to 440 randomly selected livestock owners and 23 livestock assistants, and 7 focus group discussions were held for both livestock owners and livestock assistants. The data were analyzed mainly using descriptive statistics and content analysis methods. Results. A total of 94.5% and 75% of livestock owners reported having seen tsetse and horse flies, respectively, while 100% of livestock assistants reported having seen tsetse flies. Forty-seven percent of the livestock owners indicated a positive attitude toward control measures, while 42% of them had no idea how to control tsetse flies. On the other hand, 57% of livestock assistants believe that tsetse and horse flies are the main reasons why AAT is still in their community. There was a statistically significant difference between all the respondents’ characteristics and the practices done by livestock owners to prevent AAT vectors from biting their animals. Conclusion. This study shows that trypanosomiasis is still a major problem for livestock health and production in The Gambia, and it requires disease and vector control.
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spelling doaj-art-5db69fa812584efdb4247e993b51bc142025-08-20T03:34:44ZengWileyJournal of Parasitology Research2090-00312022-01-01202210.1155/2022/3379804Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Livestock Owners and Livestock Assistants towards African Trypanosomiasis Control in The GambiaAlpha Kargbo0Edrisa Jawo1Amien Isaac Amoutchi2Herve Koua3Rex Kuye4Zainabou Dabre5Abdoulie Bojang6Rafael F. C. Vieira7WASCAL-Graduate Research Program in Climate Change and BiodiversityDepartment of Physical and Natural SciencesWASCAL-Graduate Research Program in Climate Change and BiodiversityLaboratoire de Zoologie et Biologie AnimaleDepartment Public Health and EnvironmentalWASCAL-Graduate Research Program in Climate Change and BiodiversityRemot Sensing DepartmentVector-Borne Diseases LaboratoryBackground. In Africa, it has been estimated that 50 million cattle and 70 million sheep and goats are at risk of animal African trypanosomiasis, and three million cattle die annually. Methods. This study was conducted in all the regions of The Gambia except Kombo Saint Mary Island (Banjul). Structured questionnaires were administered to 440 randomly selected livestock owners and 23 livestock assistants, and 7 focus group discussions were held for both livestock owners and livestock assistants. The data were analyzed mainly using descriptive statistics and content analysis methods. Results. A total of 94.5% and 75% of livestock owners reported having seen tsetse and horse flies, respectively, while 100% of livestock assistants reported having seen tsetse flies. Forty-seven percent of the livestock owners indicated a positive attitude toward control measures, while 42% of them had no idea how to control tsetse flies. On the other hand, 57% of livestock assistants believe that tsetse and horse flies are the main reasons why AAT is still in their community. There was a statistically significant difference between all the respondents’ characteristics and the practices done by livestock owners to prevent AAT vectors from biting their animals. Conclusion. This study shows that trypanosomiasis is still a major problem for livestock health and production in The Gambia, and it requires disease and vector control.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/3379804
spellingShingle Alpha Kargbo
Edrisa Jawo
Amien Isaac Amoutchi
Herve Koua
Rex Kuye
Zainabou Dabre
Abdoulie Bojang
Rafael F. C. Vieira
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Livestock Owners and Livestock Assistants towards African Trypanosomiasis Control in The Gambia
Journal of Parasitology Research
title Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Livestock Owners and Livestock Assistants towards African Trypanosomiasis Control in The Gambia
title_full Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Livestock Owners and Livestock Assistants towards African Trypanosomiasis Control in The Gambia
title_fullStr Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Livestock Owners and Livestock Assistants towards African Trypanosomiasis Control in The Gambia
title_full_unstemmed Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Livestock Owners and Livestock Assistants towards African Trypanosomiasis Control in The Gambia
title_short Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Livestock Owners and Livestock Assistants towards African Trypanosomiasis Control in The Gambia
title_sort knowledge attitude and practice of livestock owners and livestock assistants towards african trypanosomiasis control in the gambia
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/3379804
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