Participatory Evaluation of the Relative Livestock Populations and the Assessment of the Status and Impacts of Newcastle Disease in Rural Communities of Two Northeastern States, Nigeria

Abstract

Livestock is an important component of food security in many developing nations. However, animal diseases continue to undermine animal production and public health efforts thus widening poverty gap. Unfortunately, the conventional and what seems to be inefficient "top to bottom" disease surveillance and control policies are heavily relied upon such that negative impacts of diseases are underestimated. Participatory disease surveillance (PDS) techniques using semi-structured questioning assisted by key informants targeting focus groups were employed in 60 randomly selected villages of two Nigerian States during the years 2012 to 2014. Haemagglutination and ELISA tests to detect antibodies to Newcastle disease (ND) were conducted on 950 poultry sera. The status and economic burden of Newcastle disease and the relative livestock populations and some ethno-veterinary practices of these livestock farming communities were brought to the fore. Poultry, goats, cattle, sheep and pigs in descending order were the major livestock species kept in the study areas to which Kendalls Coefficient of Concordance (W = 0.9) agreed strongly. Accordingly, ND, lousiness, fowl pox and coccidiosis with percentage scores of ND-52%, Fowl Pox-31%, lousiness-17% and Salmonellosis-10% were important causes of poultry morbidity and mortality. ND sero-prevalence was 39%, relative morbidity; mortality and case fatality rates of 95%, 78% and 82% respectively were appraised. Again ND, coccidiosis, ectoparasitism and fowl pox were reported as seasonal poultry diseases (W = 0.6). Solanum nodiflorum and Momordica balsalmina were used to treat ND. Major livestock kept, and the ND status and effects in poultry in these livestock farming communities are here reported. Institutionalization of PDS would better * Corresponding author. W. I. Musa et al. 50 inform strategic livestock policy reforms, and improve national food security and diseases surveillance and reporting system in Nigeria.

The Concept And Methods Of Community Participation In Animal And Human Disease Surveillance

“…The interviewer must be aware of the daily work schedule, seasonal activity, work habits, climate and their effects on respondents' willingness to attend the interview because interviews should not be able to hamper important work [33]. From experience, the period immediately after crop harvest period is an ideal time to conduct interviews in northern Nigeria [32].…”

“…The team members should be brief using fewer words to express complete thoughts and the translator given enough time before proceeding to the next question. It is also recommended that the interviewer should talk directly to the respondent as if the respondent could understand him [33]. An electronic recorder used carefully could assist in further information verification [28,32].…”

“…However there are reports of how facts, ideas, and important observations slipping away if not recorded. In fact, 50 percent of the details of an interview are lost within 24 hours and by the end of second day, over 70 percent is lost [33]. Notwithstanding, an officially looking questionnaire destroys respondents confidence and therefore should be avoided during the interview instead the ground should first be tested by interacting with respondents while drawing lay outs or maps on a paper and careful use of electronic recorders may assist [28,32,33].…”

“…Interviews in the field permit more confidential discussion with farmers and possible field observations may identify new topics for discussion. Participants also feel most honoured when met in the field [28,33].…”

“…In this process, detailed notes of natural vegetation and field sketches are periodically taken, and farmers interviewed where possible. In a pastoralist set up, quality of grazing lands, soil type, vector habitats and prevalence of toxic plants may be observed [1,33]. It is popularly said that a wealth of information is available to a relaxed observer that takes the time to look around [1].…”