Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Horse Handlers and Grooms Towards Brucellosis in Horses in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine the knowledge, attitude and practices of grooms towards brucellosis in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Structured questionnaires were administered to 40 horse owners and grooms’ men in three Local Government Areas (LGAs); Sabon Gari, Zaria and Igabi; of Kaduna State, Nigeria to access knowledge, attitude and practices towards brucellosis in horses. Results from structured questionnaire showed only 37.50% (95% CI) of the respondents were aware of brucellosis, of this 22.50% (95% CI) ascribed their sources of information on the disease to be the media, 10.00% (95% CI) from experienced grooms while 5.00% (95% CI) said they heard of the disease from professionals who attended to the veterinary care of their horses. Of the respondents, only 15.00% (95% CI) were aware that brucellosis is zoonotic and mentioned that it could be contracted via ingestion of contaminated material (12.50%) and contact (2.50%). On attitude of respondents towards brucellosis, 15.00% (95% CI) reported lending out their stallions for breeding to other stables. Only 2.50% (95% CI) did not borrow stallions for breeding because they considered brucellosis and trichomoniasis as reproductive diseases that could result from the use infected stallions. The study also reported 52.50% (95% CI) and 40.00% (95% CI) of the respondents were in the habit of lending and borrowing out grooming tools respectively. They lend and borrow out tool despite mentioning that such acts are capable of leading to diseases such as ulcerative lymphangitis (95.00%), ringworm (72.50%), dermatophilosis (5.00%) and thrush (7.50%). 67.50% (95% CI) of respondents mentioned that they participated in durbars and other tournaments with their horses and reported such participation could result in diseases like ulcerative lymphangitis (25.00%) and wounds (27.50%). 50.00% (95% CI) of the respondents grazed their horses where other animals grazed and reported that even where there were reports of abortions by such animals their horses did not come down with brucellosis. All the respondents reported giving their horses’ routine veterinary medical care, especially against babesiosis. The implication of this finding is that Brucella organisms may be spread among horse handlers and the grooms due to inadequate knowledge on brucellosis. The findings revealed poor knowledge attitude and practices towards brucellosis on the part of horse handlers and grooms. It was concluded that there is a need to create awareness amongst groomsmen and horse owners on the presence of brucellosis in horses as well as the dangers of zoonotic infection.