Community Based Integrated Animal Health Management to Reduce Impact of Cerebral Coenurosis in Bonga Sheep in Kafa Zone, South Western Ethiopia

Coenurosis, a parasitic and fatal disease, is widespread in the highlands of Ethiopia where 75% of the country’s sheep population are found. There is significant prevalence of the disease in the current study area. Therefore, the current study was conducted with the objectives to reduce impact of cerebral coenurosis in sheep production in the study area through integrating different prevention and control options and to raise the community awareness about disease. Questionnaire surveys, coproscopic examination of dog faeces and household level surveillance was used to collect data on reported coenurosis cases and taeniid infections. Awareness creation trainings and regular deworming of dogs were used as an intervention to reduce the prevalence of the disease. A total of 107, 134, 153, and 124 dogs were dewormed during the first, second, third, and fourth rounds during the study period respectively. Eggs were detected in 58.53% (95% CI: 47.4- 68.86) of pre-deworming fecal samples of dogs. Eggs were detected in 24.18% (95% CI: 40.0–49.7) of post-intervention fecal samples, 34.35% less than pre-intervention. At the beginning of the intervention the level of awareness of the farmers in the intervention sites about the cause of the disease was 12.2% which was increased to 51.03% at the end of the intervention. The community-based integrated animal health management approach for the control of coenurosis has the potential to be scaled-up across the country, thereby reducing economic losses of communities where the disease is endemic.