Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ethno-veterinary control of bovine dermatophilosis and ticks in Zhombe, Njelele and Shamrock resettlement in Zimbabwe.
- Journal:
- Tropical animal health and production
- Year:
- 2013
- Authors:
- Ndhlovu, Daud Nyosi & Masika, Patrick J
- Affiliation:
- Agricultural and Rural Development Research Institute (ARDRI)
Plain-English summary
In a study conducted in Zimbabwe, researchers talked to 153 smallholder farmers to learn how they manage skin infections in cattle, known as bovine dermatophilosis, and ticks. Most farmers relied on plants for treatment, with a significant number using Cissus quadrangularis, among others, to help with the skin condition. While many farmers also used traditional methods for tick control, they reported less success with these compared to the treatments for dermatophilosis. Interestingly, some farmers believed that the natural remedies worked better than conventional medicines. Overall, the findings showed that while farmers often used traditional plant-based treatments for skin infections, they were less likely to do so for ticks.
Abstract
A structured questionnaire survey was conducted to determine the ethno-veterinary practices and other control methods used by smallholder farmers for the management of bovine dermatophilosis and ticks. A total of 153 farmers were interviewed from Njelele, Zhombe communal and Shamrock resettlement areas. Crop production contributed most to livelihoods (83.2 %) while livestock contributed 9.0 %. Over 90 % of the respondents had attended school up to primary level, with 11.4 % undergoing animal health and husbandry training. Treatment of livestock diseases was practised by 96 % of the farmers, and 49.7 % of these farmers used ethno-veterinary medicines. Across the study sites, dermatophilosis was controlled using the following plants: Cissus quadrangularis (59.7 %), Catunaregam spinosa (10.5 %), Pterocarpus angolensis (10.5 %), Kalanchoe lanceolata (5.3 %), Aloe chabaudii (3.5 %), Cassia abbreviata (1.8 %), Dichrostachys cinerea (1.8 %), Urginea sanguinea (1.8 %), Ximenia caffra (1.8 %) and a plant locally called umfanawembila (1.8 %). Carica papaya and two plants, locally called mugimbura and umdungudungu, were used for tick control, and these were reported once from Njelele communal. Other control methods, besides plants or conventional drugs, were used by 28 % of the farmers for the treatment of dermatophilosis and ticks. Some farmers (14.4 %) claimed that ethno-veterinary medicines performed better than conventional drugs. The study revealed that farmers used ethno-veterinary medical practices for the treatment of dermatophilosis but rarely for tick control.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23054800/