Influence of grooms’ knowledge and practices on horse diseases in Kano metropolis, Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study aimed at determining the grooms’ knowledge and practices on horse diseases in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria. The Zonal Veterinary Officers (ZVO) and Area Veterinary Officers (AVO) served as facilitators (informants) during the study. The ZVOs or AVOs identified the grooms for participation and selected the meeting points for interaction with them. During the study, the AVO/ZVO introduced the study to the grooms and requested for their cooperation. Three teams made up of ceremonial, polo and racing horses were constituted and semi structured interview was used in the study. The study revealed that the grooms knew horse diseases and even given them vernacular names. They could recognize 16 diseases of horses to the extent that they gave their estimated rates of occurrences. These include ulcerative lymphangitis (UL), (Rank=2; Z=1.73), colic (Rank =1; Z=2.55), piroplasmosis (P) (R=3; Z=0.75), mange (R=5; Z = 0.08), African horse sickness (AHS) (R=6; Z=0.00) and azoturia (R =8; Z= -0.44). They can relate certain symptoms with particular diseases such as: Recumbence and restlessness as suggestive of colic: Lameness, swollen elbow and fistulous withers as suggestive of brucellosis and lameness and nodules as suggestive of ulcerative lymphangitis (UL). Six (6) abnormal management practices that may predispose to diseases were identified: Inadequate feeds, shelter (improper housing), mixing of horses (from different locations especially during events) and high cost of medication. They reported self-treatment of their horses as a result of inadequacy of veterinary services. From the study, it could be concluded that horse diseases commonly encountered by grooms in the study area in order of importance were colic, ulcerative lymphangitis, piroplasmosis and mange.