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.
