Elsevier

Small Ruminant Research

Volume 175, June 2019, Pages 110-116
Small Ruminant Research

Indigenous knowledge, practices and preferences in control of gastrointestinal nematodes in Bonga and Horro sheep of Ethiopia

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2019.04.019Get rights and content

Highlights

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    Sheep farmers have local knowledge about helminth parasites of sheep in Ethiopia.

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    Farmers in community-based breeding programs use anthelmintics more frequently.

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    Sheep producers prefer anthelmintics over other options for control of nematode parasites.

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    Ethnoveterinary methods are applied in only one community.

Abstract

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) remain one of the main health and production constraints of sheep globally. Considering alternatives to anthelmintics in control of GIN of sheep has become important mainly due to development of anthelmintic resistance. In this study, we used a questionnaire survey in combination with participatory epidemiology methods, ranking and scoring, with the objectives of (1) understanding local sheep disease problems related to GIN in community-based breeding programs (CBBP) in Bonga and Horro of Ethiopia, compared to neighboring communities not involved in CBBP, and (2) assessing current practices and preferences in control of GIN of sheep in both types of communities. The most important disease conditions of sheep in Bonga CBBP with weighed ranks of 1 to 3 were coenurosis, diarrhea and coughing. The corresponding sheep disease conditions in Horro CBBP were coughing, diarrhea and bottle jaw. Diarrhea and bottle jaw presumably are related to gastrointestinal nematodes. Ethnoveterinary medicinal plants are widely used in Bonga while the knowledge is at risk of loss in Horro. Respondents in non CBBP and CBBP communities did not differ (p > 0.05) regarding most of the plant species used frequently in control of GIN in Bonga. There was significant difference (p < 0.001) in frequency of anthelmintic use between CBBP and non CBBP communities for each of the two locations, Bonga and Horro. In Horro, CBBP farmers considered anthelmintics as more sustainable GIN control option than non CBBP farmers (p < 0.001). This can be attributed to lack of awareness pertinent to development of anthelmintic resistance. In conclusion, local knowledge, practices and preferences of farmers should be considered when designing and implementing control programs for gastrointestinal nematodes.

Introduction

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) remain one of the main health and production constraints of sheep globally (Regassa et al., 2006; Roeber et al., 2013). Several methods have been advocated to control GIN, including anthelmintics, ethnoveterinary medicine, grazing management, nutritional supplementation, genetic approaches, biological methods and vaccination (Githiori et al., 2006; Athanasiadou et al., 2007; Stear et al., 2007). The utilization of these control options depend on their availability, effectiveness, cost, ease of implementation and sustainability (Stear et al., 2007; Stear, 2010).

Anthelmintic treatment offers a simple, cheap, effective, and readily available method of nematode control (Stear et al., 2007). However, anthelmintics may not be always available to all livestock farmers. When available their use is hampered due to concerns with anthelmintic resistance, animal welfare issues and public health concerns (Getachew et al., 2007). Hence, the use of anthelmintics in the control of nematodes is not sustainable (Stear, 2010). Existing methods for nematode control that can be used in place of anthelmintics have their own advantages and disadvantages. Despite ethnoveterinary medicinal plants have been used for long by farmers and traditional healers to treat parasitism, scientific evidence on the antiparasitic efficacy of most plant products is limited (Githiori et al., 2006). Genetic approaches include the use of resistant breeds and selective breeding of individuals resistant to GIN. Selective breeding is effective and inexpensive but requires a high level of expertise (Stear et al., 2007)

Prior to designing and implementing GIN control options, there is a need to understand local knowledge, current practices and preferences for different control options. The objectives of this study were to: (1) understand local sheep disease problems related to GIN in community-based breeding programs (CBBP) in Bonga and Horro of Ethiopia, compared to neighboring communities not involved in CBBP, and (2) assess current practices and preferences in control of GIN of sheep in both types of communities.

Section snippets

Study area and communities

The study was conducted in two locations of Ethiopia (Bonga and Horro), targeting communities involved in CBBP. The CBBPs are described as breeding programs that are geographically limited to communities, and typically related to low-input systems with farmers having a common interest to improve and share their genetic resources (Mueller et al., 2015). In Ethiopia, CBBPs have been implemented since 2009 for Bonga and Horro sheep (Duguma, 2010). The study locations, characteristics of the breeds

Identification of main health problems of sheep in CBBP

Results of questionnaire and pairwise ranking, and the weighted ranking of both methods are presented in Table 1 showing main disease problems of sheep in Bonga and Horro CBBP.

Questionnaire ranking showed that the most important (1st, 2nd and 3rd) disease conditions of sheep in Bonga CBBP were coenurosis, others (category of disease conditions, such as eye problem, orf, etc.) and diarrhea; while in Horro CBBP these were bottle jaw, coughing and diarrhea. When weighted ranking was considered the

Discussion

According to Schillhorn van Veen (1997), ethnosemantic diagnoses of parasitic diseases are based on signs. For instance, livestock farmers in Mexico consider bottle jaw, a disease by itself. Similarly, in our study, sheep farmers named diseases based on signs. A weighted ranking demonstrated that coughing followed by diarrhea and bottle jaw in Horro, and diarrhea next to coenurosis in Bonga were the main health problems in CBBP sheep. Diarrhea and bottle jaw may be attributed to GIN infections (

Conclusion

Considering indigenous knowledge and practices of sheep farmers is important to design sustainable GIN control programs. The current control practice of GIN of sheep in Bonga is largely based on anthelmintic and ethnoveterinary, while this mainly depends on anthelmintic in Horro. There is increased use of anthelmintic in CBBP. To reduce risks of developing anthelmintic resistance, anthelmintic use should be integrated with other alternatives for sustainable control of GIN infections in CBBP of

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge the Austrian Agency for International Cooperation in Education and Research (OeAD) for providing financial and field travel support to the first author through the Austrian Partnership Program in Higher Education and Research for Development (APPEAR) Individual PhD Scholarship Program. The farmers in Bonga and Horro are acknowledged for their willingness to participate in the study. The enumerators at Bonga (Mr. Tamiru, Mr. Asabu and Ms. Woubit) and Horro (Mr. Rabira, Mr.

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