Risk practices for bovine tuberculosis transmission to cattle and livestock farming communities living at wildlife-livestock-human interface in northern KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2020 Mar 30;14(3):e0007618. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0007618. eCollection 2020 Mar.

Abstract

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a disease of cattle that is transmitted through direct contact with an infected animal or ingestion of contaminated food or water. This study seeks to explore the local knowledge on bTB, obtain information on social and cultural practices regarding risk of bTB transmission to cattle and humans (zoonotic TB) in a traditional livestock farming community with a history of bTB diagnosis in cattle and wildlife. Information was collected using a qualitative approach of Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) targeting household members of livestock farmers that owned bTB tested herds. We conducted fourteen FGDs (150 individuals) across four dip tanks that included the following categories of participants from cattle owning households: head of households, herdsmen, dip tank committee members and women. The qualitative data was managed using NVivo Version 12 Pro software. Social and cultural practices were identified as major risky practices for bTB transmission to people, such as the consumption of undercooked meat, consumption of soured /raw milk and lack of protective measures during slaughtering of cattle. The acceptance of animals into a herd without bTB pre-movement testing following traditional practices (e.g. lobola, 'bride price', the temporary introduction of a bull for 'breeding'), the sharing of grazing and watering points amongst the herds and with wildlife were identified as risky practices for M. bovis infection transmission to cattle. Overall, knowledge of bTB in cattle and modes of transmission to people and livestock was found to be high. However, the community was still involved in risky practices that expose people and cattle to bovine TB. An inter-disciplinary 'One Health' approach that engages the community is recommended, to provide locally relevant interventions that allows the community to keep their traditional practices and socio-economic systems whilst avoiding disease transmission to cattle and people.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Animal Husbandry / methods*
  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Disease Transmission, Infectious / prevention & control*
  • Female
  • Focus Groups
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Infection Control / methods*
  • Livestock*
  • Male
  • South Africa
  • Tuberculosis / prevention & control*
  • Tuberculosis, Bovine / prevention & control*
  • Tuberculosis, Bovine / transmission
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

ALM received funding through the Belgian Directorate-General for Development Co-operation Framework Agreement (FA4 DGDITM 2017-2021) between Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, University of Pretoria and Institute of Tropical Medicine, Belgium. The funding the organisation had no role in study design, data collection, and analysis, the decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.