A Questionnaire Survey Of Reports Of Livestock Disease Outbreaks In Enugu North, South East Nigeria

Abstract

A survey of some infectious diseases of livestock was carried out in four out of six Local Government Areas (L.G.A) of Enugu North, South East Nigeria. The local government areas were: Nsukka, Igboeze North, Uzo-uwani, and Udenu. The questionnaire-based survey also included oral interviews and repeated personal visits. The study was carried out over a period of one year from September, 2002 to August, 2003. Following a pre-survey census of one hundred and thirty two (132) practicing veterinarians and animal health superintendents in the study area, one hundred and twenty (120) in the area were interviewed. A total number of forty-four (44) outbreaks of different diseases were reported in the study area for the period under study. Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) recorded the highest number of reports (19.33%) followed by Trypanosomosis (17.10%) and Newcastle Disease (ND) (13.01%). The highest number of outbreaks was observed within the second and third quarters of year (rainy season) and the locations where they were mostly reported were from Udenu L.G.A. (34.1%) and Nsukka L.G.A. (31.8%). The result of this epidemiological study showed that the diseases investigated were not significantly endemic, (p>0.05) however, based on the frequency of reports, it was evident that PPR, Trypanosomosis, ND, Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD), African Swine Fever (ASF) and Rabies were endemic in the study area. The result of this study provides background information on the diseases that limit livestock production in Enugu North Zone of Southeast Nigeria. Therefore, efforts towards curbing of livestock diseases in the study area should be targeted on PPR, Trypanosomosis, ND, IBD, ASF and Rabies.

Keywords: Questionnaires, Diseases, Livestock, Epidemiology, Enugu North

Nigerian Veterinary Journal Vol. 27 (3) 2006 pp. 1-5