Browsing by Author "Rushton, Jonathan"

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Exploring local knowledge and perceptions on zoonoses among pastoralists in northern and eastern Tanzania
(PLOS, 2017-02) Mangesho, Peter Ernest; Neselle, Moses Ole; Karimuribo, Esron D; Mlangwa, James E; Queenan, Kevin; Mboera, Leonard E. G; Rushton, Jonathan; Kock, Richard; Häsler, Barbara; Kiwara, Angwara; Rweyemamu, Mark
Zoonoses account for the most commonly reported emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is limited knowledge on how pastoral com- munities perceive zoonoses in relation to their livelihoods, culture and their wider ecology. This study was carried out to explore local knowledge and perceptions on zoonoses among pastoralists in Tanzania.
Integrated food safety and nutrition assessments in the dairy cattle value chain in Tanzania
(Elsevier, 2018) Häsler, Barbara; Msalya, George; Garza, Maria; Kimberly, Fornace; Eltholth, Mahmoud; Kurwijila, Lusato; Rushton, Jonathan; Delia, Grace
The consumption of even small amounts of animal-source foods has the potential to improve nutrition, especially in vulnerable households. However, scaling up their production bears food safety risks that are often overlooked due to a disconnect between human nutrition and animal sciences. The aim of this scoping study in Tanzania was to identify opportunities for nutritional and food safety benefits from cow milk. Questionnaires were administered to 156 producers and 157 consumers in 10 villages in Lushoto and Mvomero districts. Farmers reported that veterinary medicines such as oxytetracyclines, penicillin and strep- tomycin were frequently given to cattle, and a majority did not discard milk during or after treatment. Less than half of the producers boiled milk, although sale of fermented milk, made by spontaneous fermentation of raw milk, was common. Cattle management was characterised by low levels of biosecurity, hygienic practices and disease control. A majority of consumers reported not to have enough food to meet their family needs. The Food Consumption Score was acceptable for all households, but significantly higher for households with dairy cattle. When making purchasing decisions, the appearance of milk and trust in the supplier were more important considerations than hygiene practices observed. A total of 26% of consumers reported to consume raw milk “usually” or “sometimes” and 54% of consumers reported to drink fermented milk “usually” or “sometimes”. Consumers had a positive attitude towards milk and concern for quality but most thought there was no risk of illness from milk consumption. The findings promote understanding of the complexity surrounding the local food environment and practices related to the production and consumption of dairy products and allow shaping recommendations for nutrition- sensitive livestock interventions.
Practice of one health approaches: bridges and barriers in Tanzania
(AOSIS, 2014) Kayunze, Kim A.; Kiwara, Angwara; Lyamuya, Eligius; Kambarage, Dominic M.; Rushton, Jonathan; Coker, Richard; Kock, Richard
The practice of One Health approaches in human and animal health programmes is influenced by type and scope of bridges for and barriers to partnerships. It was thus essential to evaluate the nature and scope of collaborative arrangements among human, animal and wildlife health experts in dealing with health challenges which demand intersectoral partnership. The nature of collaborative arrangement was assessed, and the respective bridges and barriers over a period of 12 months (July 2011 – June 2012) were identified. The specific objectives were to: (1) determine the proportions of health experts who had collaborated with other experts of disciplines different from theirs, (2) rank the general bridges for and barriers to collaboration according to the views of the health experts, and (3) find the actual bridges for and barriers to collaboration among the health experts interviewed. It was found that 27.0% of animal health officers interviewed had collaborated with medical officers while 12.4% of medical officers interviewed had collaborated with animal health experts. Only 6.7% of the wildlife officers had collaborated with animal health experts. The main bridges for collaboration were instruction by upper level leaders, zoonotic diseases of serious impact and availability of funding. The main barriers to collaboration were lack of knowledge about animal or human health issues, lack of networks for collaboration and lack of plans to collaborate. This situation calls for the need to curb barriers in order to enhance intersectoral collaboration for more effective management of risks attributable to infectious diseases of humans and animals.
A socio-economic approach to one health policy research in Southern Africa
(2012-06) Lyamuya, Eligius; Rushton, Jonathan; Coker, Richard; Kock, Richard; Kayunze, Kim A.; Kiwara, Angwara D.; Kambarage, Dominic M.; Coker, Richard; Rweyemamu, Mark M.
One-health approaches have started being applied to health systems in some countries in controlling infectious diseases in order to reduce the burden of disease in humans, livestock and wild animals collaboratively. However, one wonders whether the problem of lingering and emerging zoonoses is more affected by health policies, low application of one-health approaches, or other factors. As part of efforts to answer this question, the Southern African Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance (SACIDS) smart partnership of human health, animal health and socio-economic experts published, in April 2011, a conceptual framework to support One Health research for policy on emerging zoonoses. The main objective of this paper was to identify which factors really affect the burden of disease and how the burden could affect socio-economic well-being. Amongst other issues, the review of literature shows that the occurrence of infectious diseases in humans and animals is driven by many factors, the most important ones being the causative agents (viruses, bacteria, parasites, etc.) and the mediator conditions (social, cultural, economic or climatic) which facilitate the infection to occur and hold. Literature also shows that in many countries there is little collaboration between medical and veterinary services despite the shared underlying science and the increasing infectious disease threat. In view of these findings, a research to inform health policy must walk on two legs: a natural sciences leg and a social sciences one
Towards a conceptual framework to support one-health research for policy on emerging zoonoses
(Elsevier, 2011-04) Coker, Richard; Rushton, Jonathan; Mounier-Jack, Sandra; Karimuribo, Esron; Lutumba, Pascal; Kambarage, Dominic; U Pfeiffer, Dirk; Stärk, Katharin; Rweyemamu, Mark
In the past two decades there has been a growing realisation that the livestock sector was in a process of change, resulting from an expansion of intensive animal production systems and trade to meet a globalised world’s increasing demand for livestock products. One unintended consequence has been the emergence and spread of transboundary animal diseases and, more specifi cally, the resurgence and emergence of zoonotic diseases. Concurrent with changes in the livestock sector, contact with wildlife has increased. This development has increased the risk of transmission of infections from wildlife to human beings and livestock. Two overarching questions arise with respect to the real and perceived threat from emerging infectious diseases: why are these problems arising with increasing frequency, and how should we manage and control them? A clear conceptual research framework can provide a guide to ensure a research strategy that coherently links to the overarching goals of policy makers. We propose such a new framework in support of a research and policy-generation strategy to help to address the challenges posed by emerging zoonoses.
Utilisation of one health approaches in the surveillance and mitigation of risks of animal derived infections in Tanzania: attitudinal profiles of human and animal health experts
(Greener Journal of Medical Sciences, 2013) Kayunze, Kim A; Kiwara, Angwara D; Lyamuya, Eligius; Kambarage, Dominic M; Rushton, Jonathan; Coker, Richard; Kock, Richard
Effective detection, identification, monitoring and control of zoonoses and other animal-derived infections call for embracement of multi- and trans-disciplinary partnership as a means towards optimising the health of humans, animals and their ecosystems. This study was thus aimed at evaluating attitudinal profiles of human, animal and wildlife health experts in Ngorongoro (Manyara Region) and Kibaha (Coastal Region) Districts to this partnered arrangement in dealing with infectious diseases of humans and animals. This was carried out using a structured questionnaire which comprised a 100-point Likert scale on which <60, 60 and 60< points represented unfavourable, neutral and favourable attitudes respectively. The questionnaire was administered to 91 medical, veterinary and wildlife experts in July and August 2012. It was found that, overall, the respondents had positive attitude (64.8%) towards inter-sectoral collaboration. The proportions of the respondents with unfavourable, neutral and favourable attitudes were 22.0%, 8.8% and 69.2%, respectively. The scores by the three categories of experts showed no significant difference (F = 1.428, p = 0.248). This indicates that human and animal health experts value the use of one health approaches in dealing with zoonoses and other animal-derived infections.