Journal of Animal Health and Production

Research Article
J. Anim. Health Prod. 3 (2): 28 -34
http://dx.doi.org/10.14737/journal.jahp/2015/3.2.28.34
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Hajarah Uwale Buhari1, Shehu Naallah Alhaji Saidu2, Garba Mohammed3, Mashood Abiola Raji4

1Samaru College of Agriculture, Division of Agricultural Colleges; 2Department of Veterinary Medicine; 3Veterinary Teaching Hospital, ; 4Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

*Correspondence | Hajarah Uwale Buhari, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria; Email: buharihajarah@gmail.com

Abstract
In a study to determine the status of bovine brucellosis in pastoralist herds in the North Senatorial District of Kaduna State, forty two pastoralist herds were used. A structured questionnaire was used to capture pastoralists’ knowledge, attitude and practices with regards to bovine brucellosis. Most of the pastoralists interviewed were aware of bovine brucellosis while a few were not. Majority of the pastoralists reported recognizing abortion as the major clinical sign of brucellosis in cattle while, some of them reported recognizing hygroma and retained placenta as signs of bovine brucellosis. With respect to abortion, Most of the pastoralists reported having abortion in their herds while the remaining did not. In addition, those that had abortion histories reported feeding those aborted foetuses to dogs, burying them, hanging the foetuses on trees and throwing them away. Majority of the pastoralists had no knowledge on how brucellosis is transmitted among animals, while some others believed mating, consumption of contaminated water and consumption of contaminated feed respectively were the ways in which animals could contract brucellosis. A large number of the respondents believed brucellosis is not transmissible from animals to man. Only few of the pastoralists were aware of the zoonotic nature of brucellosis. In conclusion, this study reveals that pastoralists in the study area have very little knowledge about the zoonotic impact of brucellosis and their attitudes and practices promote its spread.

Keywords | Brucellosis, Pastoralists, Knowledge, Attitude, Practices