Participatory Epidemiological Study of Endemic Bovine Diseases Among Gnyangatom and Dasenech Pastoralists, South Omo Zone, Ethiopia

A community‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted, in which participatory appraisal methods were applied to validate Dasenech and Gnyangatom pastoralists’ existing veterinary knowledge on endemic diseases and to determine their perception of rank, morbidity, and mortality of the disease. The participatory methods used were matrix scoring, proportional piling, pairwise ranking, and clinical observation. A total of 96 informants were included in the study to collect in‐depth information. Ranking using proportional piling ( W > 0.38; p > 0.05) and pairwise ranking ( p > 0.05) based on the impact on livelihood revealed that anthrax, contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP), trypanosomiasis, pasteurellosis, and lumpy skin disease (LSD) were the five most important diseases prioritized in the study areas. The study also showed that these diseases’ relative prevalence rate (participatory epidemiology (PE)‐morbidity) was 18%, 16.5%, 6%, 8.5%, and 3.4%, respectively. The results also revealed that these diseases had a 14%, 10.88%, 5.58%, 5.3%, and 2% case fatality rate (PE‐fatality). The analysis of matrix scoring indicated that pastoralists could associate the diseases with their clinical signs ( W = 0.382; p < 0.05). Thus, the concordance between informant groups and participatory appraisal methods has proven that Dasenech and Gnyangatom pastoralists are knowledgeable about endemic bovine diseases. Hence, it is recommended that disease control intervention measures in the area should appreciate community involvement and consider these diseases.