Abstract
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.
Highlights
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
African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) is a neglected zoonotic parasitic disease caused by protozoans of the genus Trypanosoma [1, 2], and it causes important economic losses of approximately 4.5 billion US dollars per year [3] as a result of direct and indirect losses due to crop spoilage and agricultural worker involvement [4, 5]
The survey conducted on the knowledge, attitude, and practice of livestock owners and livestock assistants on the occurrence of trypanosomiasis in The Gambia has provided us with important information on the status of AAT, and the KAP of livestock owners and livestock assistants affects disease control
Summary
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. 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. 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. African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT) is a neglected zoonotic parasitic disease caused by protozoans of the genus Trypanosoma [1, 2], and it causes important economic losses of approximately 4.5 billion US dollars per year [3] as a result of direct (mortality, production losses, costs of prophylactic, and curative trypanocidal drugs) and indirect losses due to crop spoilage and agricultural worker involvement (deficiency of animal protein diets) [4, 5]. Diminazene aceturate and Isometamidium chloride have been used to cure trypanosomiasis for the past three decades, and there is a possibility that there could be some cases of resistance to these drugs [11, 12]
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