Participatory investigation of important animal health problems amongst the Turkana pastoralists: Relative incidence, impact on livelihoods and suggested interventions

This report describes a study of the principal animal health problems in central and southern parts of Turkana South District, with particular emphasis on their relative importance, factors that promote their occurrence and persistence, and the perceived impact of intervention measures applied previously by the Turkana Livestock Development Program (TLDP). The study was conceived and supported by VSF Belgium, a non-governmental organization (NGO) which is implementing the TLDP. The first phase of the program was implemented between 2000 and 2005, and the second phase was initiated in 2006. The overall objective of the first phase, which occurred largely in Turkana Central (Turkwell, Loima and Kerio Divisions), was to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable pastoral communities through enhanced livestock production, increased access to water, improved marketing opportunities and peace building initiatives. The second phase of the program builds on the achievements of the TLDP I and seeks to expand the target area to include Turkana South (Kainuk, Katilu, Lokichar and Lokori Divisions). The study utilized participatory epidemiological techniques to capture and prioritize animal health problems observed in the target area. Topics of discussion include livestock species and benefits received from them; livestock diseases and interventions; effect of nomadic pastoralism on disease persistence and transmission; impacts of conflicts on livestock husbandry and disease occurrence and persistence; livestock species and disease priorities; disease control; access and utilization of veterinary inputs; community animal health workers; pastoralism and transboundary disease; and conflict and animal health care

Introduction à l’épidémiologie participative et son application à la surveillance participative de l’influenza aviaire hautement pathogène: Manuel pour les praticiens de la surveillance participative des maladies

Dans le cadre du projet de détection précoce, de rapportage et de surveillance de l’influenza aviaire en Afrique, financé par l’Agence américaine pour le développement international (USAID), un certain nombre de formations en surveillance participative de la maladie (SPM) concernant l’influenza aviaire hautement pathogène (IAHP) ont été réalisés en Afrique de l’Ouest et de l’Est en 2008 et 2009. L’objet de ce manuel est d’offrir une référence aux vétérinaires et aux agents de santé animale pendant et après une formation en SPM. Le manuel est principalement axé sur la SPM de l’IAHP, mais les méthodes peuvent être facilement adaptées et appliquées à d’autres maladies du bétail

Introduction to participatory epidemiology and its application to highly pathogenic avian influenza participatory disease surveillance: A manual for participatory disease surveillance practitioners

The purpose of this manual is to provide a reference for veterinarians and animal health workers during and after PDS training. The main focus of the manual is on HPAI PDS but the methods can be easily adaptedand applied to address other livestock diseases

Pan African strategy for the progressive control of peste des petits ruminants (Pan African ppr strategy)

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a major constraint to the livelihoods and food security of small scale farmers. The epidemiology and biology of PPR virus has much in common with rinderpest virus (RP), an agent that has been globally eradicated. This document presents a strategy for the progressive control of PPR that builds upon the lessons learnt from rinderpest eradication. Progressive control relies upon a modular approach that consists of a series of self-sufficient phases each with its own set of sustainable results. Key intermediate results will be proven business models for sustainable PPR control service delivery and enhanced capacity of animal health institutions to target control services to critical control points. The program will foster an adaptive management approach that integrates learning approaches to drive animal health institutional innovation. The coordinated drive towards long term animal health goals will add value to on-going investments in infectious disease control

Population dynamics in Kampong chicken and consequences for HPAI vaccination: results of a field trial in Java

Until today HPAI in poultry is considered to be endemic in most of the Indonesian provinces since it was officially declared in 2004. Vaccination is used as one of the control strategies targeting layer and breeder farms but also Kampong (village) chicken. Limited information is available on the scope of off-take and replacement occurring in Kampong chicken populations under field condition and their effects on HPAI vaccination. To collate information on population dynamics in Kampong chicken, twelve communities with 300-500 chickens each have been enrolled in this trial. Chicken exit/entries as well as disease/mortality events were intensively monitored in weekly intervals. The trial was carried out between July 2008 and August 2009 in two Districts of Yogyakarta, Java. Results indicate that 39-44% of chickens were younger than two months of age over time and more than two-thirds of chickens were younger than four months, respectively. Adult chickens represented only 10% (male) and 20% (female) of the total population. Though overall population size within the selected communities was relatively stable, the number of chickens changed widely within age classes. In each observed quarter, there was a 43% or higher turnover of the population (43-72%). Observed changes were related to socio-cultural events such as holidays or begin of school. From our results we can conclude that approximately 40% of a natural backyard population will be un-vaccinated by 60 days after the onset of a vaccination campaign. Considering this high population turnover rate, even a quarterly vaccination regime including a booster round is required will have difficulty achieving effective flock immunity levels. This results in high costs, poses a significant logistical challenge and suggests mass vaccination is not a practical approach to sustained control of HPAI