Abstract:
BACKGROUND : In the great Limpopo transfrontier conservation area (GLTFCA), there is an increased interface
between wildlife and domestic animals, because rural households move their cattle into the game park in search
of grazing and watering resources. This creates opportunities for inter-species transmission of infectious diseases,
including zoonoses like brucellosis and tuberculosis, which may also pose a health risk to the local rural
communities. This study investigated the awareness, perceptions and practices on zoonoses amongst rural cattle
owners, commodity chain- and health-workers in three different localities around Gonarezhou National Park (GNP),
Zimbabwe, where the interface between wild and domestic animals varies.
METHODS : A cross-sectional study was conducted in Malipati, Chikombedzi and Chiredzi that are considered to be
high-, medium- and low-domestic animal-wildlife interface areas, respectively. Data was collected from cattle
owners, commodity chain and health-workers using a semi-structured questionnaire. To determine the public
health risk of food-borne zoonoses, their practices with regard to meat and milk consumptions, and measures they
take to prevent exposure to infections were assessed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and principal
component analysis.
RESULTS : Most respondents (52.8 %, 102/193) were cattle owners, followed by health (30.1 %, 58/193) and lastly
commodity chain workers (17.1 %, 33/193). Overall 67.4 % (130/193) of the respondents were aware of zoonoses
with respective 48, 81.8, and 93.1 % of cattle owners, commodity chain, and health workers, being aware.
Significantly more cattle owners (P < 0.05) from medium and low interface areas were aware of zoonoses compared
to those from high interface areas. All categories of respondents cited anthrax (69.2 %), rabies (57.7 %), tuberculosis
(41.5 %) and brucellosis (23.9 %) as important zoonoses. About half (46.1 %; 89/193) of the respondents perceive
wildlife as important reservoirs of zoonoses. High proportions 98.4 % (190/193) and 96.4 % (186/193) of the
respondents indicated that they consume meat and milk, respectively. Access to game meat and milk from
informal markets was closely associated with consumption of raw meat and milk.
CONCLUSIONS : Fewer cattle owners from a high interface area of Malipati are aware of zoonoses compared to other areas due to combined effects of limited education and other factors disadvantaging these marginalised areas. This
may increase their risk of exposure to zoonoses, considering that consumption of raw meat and milk is common.
Thus, awareness campaigns may reduce the public health impact of zoonoses at the interface.
