Assessment of knowledge of the occurrence of vector borne and zoonotic diseases in the Gambia: a need to adopt the one health approach

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to show the prevailing disease caused by Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae); Tabanus (Diptera: Tabanidae) and Stably flies (Diptera: Muscidae) in circulation in The Gambia and the need to implement the one health concept to control them.

Design: A cross sectional descriptive study

Setting: Livestock farmers, Human and Animal health workers in both rural in The Gambia.

Subject or participants: 440 livestock owners, 7 stakeholders, 46 Animal and human health workers

Intervention: One-on-one interviews, key informants’ interview, and Focus Group Discussions

Data analysis: Data was analyze using Statistical Package for Social Science version 22 and p-value≤0.05

Main outcome measures: Observed zoonotic diseases cause by Tabanus, Tsetse flies and Stably flies in The Gambia

Result and conclusion: Human Africa Trypanosomiasis is seen as a re-emerging disease, whiles Anaplasmosis, Anthrax and Rift valley are confirmed to be in circulation in animals but may however be also silently circulating in humans in The Gambia. The establishment of an effective and efficient cross-sectoral coordinating government unit, with a proper surveillance system in domestic, wild animals and human that meets the needs of animal and human health, a workforce trained in the One Health approach would definitely make The Gambia to continue to promote human and animal health and as well help to promote food self-sufficiency and reduce poverty.