Community perception of animal trypanosomiasis in Durbi village, Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau State, Central Nigeria

Abstract

Local perception of animal trypanosomiasis was studied in Durbi village, Jos East Local Government Area (LGA) of Plateau State, Nigeria. Focus Group Discussion (FGD) guide prepared by the Project Team was administered to herd owners, Units, and Sectional Heads and the Director in the Agricultural Services Division, Jos East Local Government. Our findings indicated that the common livestock kept in the areas were mainly cattle, goats, sheep, turkey, and chicken. These were separately reared from each other. Reasons given for keeping the animals included economic, social activities, and for animal manure. Animal trypanosomosis ranked highest among the perceived common diseases of livestock in the area. Signs and symptoms used in the area for the diagnosis of the disease include sand and rag eating behavior, emaciation, anaemia, loss of appetite, liver inflammation observable at the slaughter, roughness of body hair, eye discharge, and sluggish movement during grazing. Their perceived causes of the disease were drinking stream water, fry bites, tiredness due to restrainig during the rainy season and farming period. Other perceived causes included too much rainfall for any year and unknown agent that caused the disease between August and September, each year. All those interviewed reported that animal trypanosomosis was present in their herd throughout the year. It was however, minimal in the rainy season but has a high incidence in the dry season. The significancy of these findings in the development of appropriate integrated disease programme for the community is discussed.