Farmers’ perceptions of bovine brucellosis in Benin

Vet World Vol.17 February-2024 Article-24

Research Article

Veterinary World, 17(2): 434-447

https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2024.434-447

Adeyemi Sharafa Dine Djibril^1,2, Fifa Théomaine Diane Bothon^2,3,4, Kadoeto Cyrille Boko¹, Bénoit Gbetondjingninougbo Koutinhouin¹, and Souaibou Farougou¹

1. Research Unit on Communicable Diseases, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
2. Research Unit on Plant Extracts and Natural Flavors, Applied Chemistry Study and Research Laboratory, Polytechnic School of Abomey-Calavi, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
3. Kaba Laboratory for Research in Chemistry and Applications.
4. National Higher Institute of Industrial Technology, National University of Sciences, Engineering Technologies and Mathematics, Benin.

Background and Aim: Cattle are the main source of meat in Benin. To improve the attitudes and practices of cattle breeders in relation to bovine brucellosis, a study has been carried out in Benin according to different agroecological zones. This study aimed to assess farmers’ knowledge and practices concerning bovine brucellosis to generate essential information for control programs and public health interventions.

Materials and Methods: The study was conducted from February to May 2022, during which 608 farmers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire that provided information on socioeconomic characteristics, knowledge, and practices related to bovine brucellosis. Analysis of variance , Poisson regression, and the proportion comparison test were used to compare these characteristics in the different agroecological zones. At the end of the surveys, three distinct and homogeneous groups of perceptions (hierarchical classification of Multiple Correspondence Analysis components of R software) of bovine brucellosis were identified (these groups only consider farmers who declared knowledge of the disease). Groups were formed by applying the multiple correspondence analysis function of the FactoMineR library in R software, followed by a hierarchical ascending classification using the hierarchical clustering on principal component function of the same software (Agrocampus Rennes, France).

Results: Only 38% of respondents were aware of brucellosis. Knowledge of brucellosis was not related to sex or education level but was higher among farmers in agroecological Zones 1 and 4. Ethnic Dendi herders (62.16%) had better knowledge of the disease than those from other sociolinguistic groups (Somba: 50%, Fulani: 40.91%, Baribas: 26.97%, and others: 8.82%). Reduced milk production (98.29%), presence of hygroma (87.18%), and abortion (56.84%) are the main signs reported by herders familiar with the disease. All three groups had good knowledge of the disease and its zoonotic nature. Groups 1 (96% of breeders) and 2 (2.14%) were aware of the risk factors (contact with affected animals, the consumption of raw milk, the handling of runts, and reproductive rejection). In the case of Brucella, they prefer to treat animals rather than sell them and use both traditional and modern medicines. Group 3 (1.71%) did not know the risk factors and preferred to sell animals in the event of illness.

Conclusion: Pastoralists need to be made aware of the mode of transmission of bovine brucellosis, its clinical manifestations, its impact on animal health, and the zoonotic nature of the disease (impact on public health) so that bovine brucellosis can be rapidly detected in herds. Keywords: Benin, brucellosis risk factors, public health, knowledge.

Keywords: Benin, brucellosis risk factors, public health, knowledge.

How to cite this article: Djibril ASD, Bothon FTD, Boko KC, Koutinhouin BG, and Farougou S (2024) Farmers’ perceptions of bovine brucellosis in Benin, Veterinary World, 17(2): 434–447.

Received: 21-10-2023 Accepted: 05-02-2024 Published online: 23-02-2024

Corresponding author: Adeyemi Sharafa Dine Djibril E-mail: djibrildine2004@gmail.com

DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2024.434-447

Copyright: Djibril ASD, et al. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http:// creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.