Knowledge, attitudes and practices on bovine brucellosis among smallholder livestock keepers  in Rungwe district, Tanzania

Upendo Maruchu; Edwin Chang'a; Charles Mpemba; Lokoo Mwaipopo; Selemani Masola; Fadhili Guni; Mwemezi Kabululu; Daniel Mdetele; Selemani Makungu; Erick Komba

doi:10.31893/avr.2023012

Keywords:

cattle

health

infectious

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of smallholder livestock farmers on brucellosis in Rungwe District, Tanzania. A cross-sectional study was conducted among cattle keepers practicing communal grazing in the district using a structured questionnaire. One hundred cattle keepers provided information about their KAP for brucellosis. Out of 100 participants, 12.8% did not know how the disease is transmitted in cattle, 20.5% stated mating, 37.2% stated placenta and 29.5% stated shared grazing area as the main transmission routes of the disease. Some respondents reported abortion (20.5%), bull infertility (25.6%) and weak calves (38.5%) as clinical signs in cattle, while 15.4% did not know the clinical signs. Drinking raw milk (23.1%), assisting delivery or handling placenta (16.7%), slaughtering infected animals (29.5%) and handling abortion cases (21.8%) were reported as means of brucellosis transmission to humans. A total of 11.5% of participants did not know the symptoms of brucellosis in humans, while 16.7%, 47.4% and 24.4% cited fever, headache and flu-like symptoms, respectively, as symptoms of brucellosis in humans. Most respondents had bad attitudes and practices toward brucellosis; for instance, 59.8% of respondents consumed unboiled milk. It is concluded that most livestock farmers in Rungwe district have poor knowledge of brucellosis, and their attitudes and practices put them and susceptible cattle on their farms at risk of contracting the disease. Education campaigns on the disease prevalence, socioeconomic effects, mode of transmission and control measures are recommended to control brucellosis in Rungwe District and the country at large.
References
1. Buhari H, Saidu S, Mohammed G and Raji M (2015) Knowledge, attitude and practices of pastoralists on bovine brucellosis in the north senatorial district of Kaduna state, Nigeria’. Journal of Animal Health and Production 3:28–34. https://doi.org/10.14737/journal.jahp/2015/3.2.28.34
2. Cloete A, Gerstenberg C, Mayet N and Tempia S (2019) Brucellosis knowledge, attitude and practices of a South African Communal cattle keeper group. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 86.
3. Franco MP, Mulder M, Gilman RH and Smits HL (2007) ‘Human brucellosis’, The Lancet Infectious Diseases 7:775–786. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099 (07)70286–4.
4. Galinska EM and Zagórski J (2013). Brucellosis in humans-etiology, diagnostics, clinical forms. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine 20:233–238.
5. Godfroid J, Bosman P, Herr S and Bishop G (2004). ‘Bovine brucellosis’, in J.A.W. Coetzer & R.C. Tustin (eds.), Infectious diseases of livestock, 2nd edn., pp. 1510–1527, Oxford University Press Southern Africa, Cape Town.
6. Holt HR, Eltholth MM, Hegazy YM, El-Tras WF, Tayel AA and Guitian J (2011) ‘Brucella spp. infection in large ruminants in an endemic area of Egypt: Cross-sectional study investigating seroprevalence, risk factors and livestock owner’s knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs). BMC Public Health 11:341. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-341.
7. John K, Fitzpatrick J, French N, Kazwala , Kambarage D and Mfinanga GS (2010). “Quantifying risk factors for human brucellosis in rural Northern Tanzania”, PLoS ONE 5.
8. Kansiime C, Mugisha A, Makumbi F, Mugisha S, Rwego IB, Sempa J (2014) Knowledge and perceptions of brucellosis in the pastoral communities adjacent to Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda. BMC Public Health 14:242.https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-242.
9. Katandukila JV, ChuhilaYJ and Chibwana FD (2021). Serological analyses of human brucellosis in Ngara and Kibondo districts, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Science 47:3.
10. Lindahl E, Sattorov N, Boqvist S. and Magnusson U (2015) A study of knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to brucellosis among small-scale dairy farmers in an urban and peri-urban area of Tajikistan. PLoS One 10. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0117318.
11. Makala R, Majigo MV, Bwire GM, Kibwana U, Mirambo MM and Joachim A (2020) Seroprevalence of Brucella infection and associated factors among pregnant women receiving antenatal care around human, wildlife and livestock interface in Ngorongoro ecosystem, Northern Tanzania. A cross – sectional study. BMC Infectious Diseases 20.
12. Marcotty T, Matthys F, Godfroid J, Rigouts L, Ameni G and Van Pittius NG (2013) Zoonotic tuberculosis and brucellosis in Africa: Neglected zoonoses or minor public-health issues? The outcomes of a multi-disciplinary workshop’, Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 103:401–411. https://doi. org/10.1179/136485909X451771.
13. Mfune RL (2015) Epidemiological Study of Bovine Brucellosis in Smallholder dairy cattle in Lushoto and Rungwe Districts, Tanzania. MSc Dissertation, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.
14. Musallam II, Abo-Shehada MN and Guitian J (2015) Knowledge, attitudes, and practices associated with brucellosis in livestock owners in Jordan. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 93:1148–1155. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.15-0294.
15. Nabirye HM (2017) Brucellosis: Community, medical and veterinary workers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Northern Uganda. International Journal of One Health 3:12–18.
16. Obonyo M and Gufu WB (2015) Knowledge, attitude and practices towards brucellosis among pastoral community in Kenya. International Journal of Innovative Research and Development 10:375–384.
17. Olsen S, Tatum F (2010) “Bovine brucellosis” Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice 26:15–27.
18. Sadler WW (1960) “Present evidence on the role of meat in the epidemiology of human brucellosis” American Journal of Public Health and the Nation’s Health 50:504–514.
19. Wojno JM, Moodley C, Pienaar J, Beylis N, Jacobsz L, Nicol MP (2016) Human brucellosis in South Africa: Public health and diagnostic pitfalls. South African Medical Journal 106:883–885. https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2016. v106i9.11020.
20. World Health Organization (WHO) (2006) “The control of neglected zoonotic diseases: A route to poverty alleviation”, Geneva.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to cite

Maruchu, U., Chang’a, E., Mpemba, C., Mwaipopo, L., Masola, S., Guni, F., Kabululu, M., Mdetele, D., Makungu, S., & Komba, E. (2023). Knowledge, attitudes and practices on bovine brucellosis among smallholder livestock keepers in Rungwe district, Tanzania. Applied Veterinary Research, 2(3), 2023012. https://doi.org/10.31893/avr.2023012

[1] Buhari H, Saidu S, Mohammed G and Raji M (2015) Knowledge, attitude and practices of pastoralists on bovine brucellosis in the north senatorial district of Kaduna state, Nigeria’. Journal of Animal Health and Production 3:28–34. https://doi.org/10.14737/journal.jahp/2015/3.2.28.34

[2] Cloete A, Gerstenberg C, Mayet N and Tempia S (2019) Brucellosis knowledge, attitude and practices of a South African Communal cattle keeper group. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research 86.

[3] Franco MP, Mulder M, Gilman RH and Smits HL (2007) ‘Human brucellosis’, The Lancet Infectious Diseases 7:775–786. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099 (07)70286–4.

[4] Galinska EM and Zagórski J (2013). Brucellosis in humans-etiology, diagnostics, clinical forms. Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine 20:233–238.

[5] Godfroid J, Bosman P, Herr S and Bishop G (2004). ‘Bovine brucellosis’, in J.A.W. Coetzer & R.C. Tustin (eds.), Infectious diseases of livestock, 2nd edn., pp. 1510–1527, Oxford University Press Southern Africa, Cape Town.

[6] Holt HR, Eltholth MM, Hegazy YM, El-Tras WF, Tayel AA and Guitian J (2011) ‘Brucella spp. infection in large ruminants in an endemic area of Egypt: Cross-sectional study investigating seroprevalence, risk factors and livestock owner’s knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs). BMC Public Health 11:341. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-11-341.

[7] John K, Fitzpatrick J, French N, Kazwala , Kambarage D and Mfinanga GS (2010). “Quantifying risk factors for human brucellosis in rural Northern Tanzania”, PLoS ONE 5.

[8] Kansiime C, Mugisha A, Makumbi F, Mugisha S, Rwego IB, Sempa J (2014) Knowledge and perceptions of brucellosis in the pastoral communities adjacent to Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda. BMC Public Health 14:242.https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-242.

[9] Katandukila JV, ChuhilaYJ and Chibwana FD (2021). Serological analyses of human brucellosis in Ngara and Kibondo districts, Tanzania. Tanzania Journal of Science 47:3.

[10] Lindahl E, Sattorov N, Boqvist S. and Magnusson U (2015) A study of knowledge, attitudes and practices relating to brucellosis among small-scale dairy farmers in an urban and peri-urban area of Tajikistan. PLoS One 10. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0117318.

[11] Makala R, Majigo MV, Bwire GM, Kibwana U, Mirambo MM and Joachim A (2020) Seroprevalence of Brucella infection and associated factors among pregnant women receiving antenatal care around human, wildlife and livestock interface in Ngorongoro ecosystem, Northern Tanzania. A cross – sectional study. BMC Infectious Diseases 20.

[12] Marcotty T, Matthys F, Godfroid J, Rigouts L, Ameni G and Van Pittius NG (2013) Zoonotic tuberculosis and brucellosis in Africa: Neglected zoonoses or minor public-health issues? The outcomes of a multi-disciplinary workshop’, Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 103:401–411. https://doi. org/10.1179/136485909X451771.

[13] Mfune RL (2015) Epidemiological Study of Bovine Brucellosis in Smallholder dairy cattle in Lushoto and Rungwe Districts, Tanzania. MSc Dissertation, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.

[14] Musallam II, Abo-Shehada MN and Guitian J (2015) Knowledge, attitudes, and practices associated with brucellosis in livestock owners in Jordan. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 93:1148–1155. https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.15-0294.

[15] Nabirye HM (2017) Brucellosis: Community, medical and veterinary workers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices in Northern Uganda. International Journal of One Health 3:12–18.

[16] Obonyo M and Gufu WB (2015) Knowledge, attitude and practices towards brucellosis among pastoral community in Kenya. International Journal of Innovative Research and Development 10:375–384.

[17] Olsen S, Tatum F (2010) “Bovine brucellosis” Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice 26:15–27.

[18] Sadler WW (1960) “Present evidence on the role of meat in the epidemiology of human brucellosis” American Journal of Public Health and the Nation’s Health 50:504–514.

[19] Wojno JM, Moodley C, Pienaar J, Beylis N, Jacobsz L, Nicol MP (2016) Human brucellosis in South Africa: Public health and diagnostic pitfalls. South African Medical Journal 106:883–885. https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2016. v106i9.11020.

[20] World Health Organization (WHO) (2006) “The control of neglected zoonotic diseases: A route to poverty alleviation”, Geneva.

Abstract

References

How to cite