title: Participatory study of medicinal plants used in the control of gastrointestinal parasites in donkeys in Eastern Shewa and Arsi zones of Oromia region, Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastrointestinal nematode infections constitute a threat to the health and welfare of donkeys worldwide. Their primary means of control is via anthelmintic treatments; however, use of these drugs has constraints in developing countries, including cost, limited availability, access to cheaper generic forms of variable quality and potential anthelmintic resistance. As an alternative, bioactive plants have been proposed as an option to treat and control gastrointestinal helminths in donkeys. This study aimed to use participatory methodology to explore donkey owner knowledge, attitudes and beliefs relating to the use of plant-based treatments for gastrointestinal parasites of donkeys in Ethiopia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In focus groups, 22/29 groups stated they knew of plants used for the treatment of gastrointestinal parasites in donkeys. All groups volunteered plants that were used in cattle and/or small ruminants. In total, 21 plants were named by participants. 'Koso' (Hagenia abyssinica) 'Grawa' (Vernonia amygdalina) and a mixed roots and leaves preparation were the most frequently named plant preparations. 'Enkoko' (Embelia shimperi) and 'a mixture of roots and leaves' were ranked highly for effectiveness in donkeys. However, 'Grawa' and 'Koso' were the highest ranked when taking into account both the rank position and the number of groups ranking the plant.Thematic analysis of participants' current attitudes and beliefs surrounding traditional plant-based remedies for gastrointestinal parasites revealed that anthelmintics obtained from clinics were generally favoured due to their ease of administration and perceived higher effectiveness. There was doubt surrounding the effectiveness of some plant-based treatments, but there were also perceived advantages including their low cost, ease of cultivation and availability. However, plant-based treatments were considered a "past trend" and people favoured "modern" medicine, particularly among the younger generation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was extensive knowledge of plant-based treatments for gastrointestinal parasites in livestock in Ethiopia. In donkeys, Koso (Hagenia abyssinica), Grawa (Vernonia amygdalina), Enkoko (Embelia shimperi) and 'mixed roots and leaves' were the most frequently named and/or highest ranked plants with reported efficacy against gastrointestinal parasites. Further in vitro and in vivo investigation of these plants is now required to determine viable alternatives for the treatment and control of gastrointestinal parasites in Ethiopia.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Infection and Global Health and School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Cheshire, UK. ginap@liv.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Claire E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Scantlebury
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peachey
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hodgkinson
authors.forename: Jacqui B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trawford
authors.forename: Getachew
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mulugeta
authors.forename: Gebre
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tefera
authors.forename: Gina L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Pinchbeck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D018397:Equidae; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal / Q000628:therapy*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000145:classification*; D055815:Young Adult
references.citation: J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Dec;95(2-3):277-84
references.pmid: 15507349
references.citation: Vet J. 2012 Feb;191(2):151-60
references.pmid: 21856195
references.citation: Trop Anim Health Prod. 1998 Oct;30(5):309-24
references.pmid: 9881437
references.citation: Vet Parasitol. 2009 Apr 6;161(1-2):99-105
references.pmid: 19135803
references.citation: J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2011 Dec 02;7:39
references.pmid: 22132758
references.citation: Pharm Biol. 2010 Jun;48(6):697-702
references.pmid: 20645744
references.citation: Parasitology. 2005 Feb;130(Pt 2):203-11
references.pmid: 15727070
references.citation: Vet Res. 2002 Sep-Oct;33(5):491-507
references.pmid: 12387486
references.citation: Vet Parasitol. 2002 Jul 29;107(1-2):103-13
references.pmid: 12072218
references.citation: J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2011 Sep 24;7:28
references.pmid: 21943288
references.citation: Trop Anim Health Prod. 2009 Apr;41(4):655-62
references.pmid: 18791803
references.citation: Vet Parasitol. 2006 Jul 31;139(4):308-20
references.pmid: 16725262
references.citation: Vet Res Commun. 1997 Apr;21(3):213-28
references.pmid: 9090048
references.citation: J Ethnopharmacol. 2009 Oct 29;126(1):64-73
references.pmid: 19686831
references.citation: Trop Anim Health Prod. 2009 Oct;41(7):1549-61
references.pmid: 19412741
references.citation: Vet Parasitol. 1999 Aug 31;85(2-3):113-21; discussion 121-2, 215-25
references.pmid: 10485358
references.citation: Trop Anim Health Prod. 2005 Nov;37 Suppl 1:35-45
references.pmid: 16335070
references.citation: J Ethnopharmacol. 1996 Jan;50(1):35-42
references.pmid: 8778505
references.citation: J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2012 Oct 08;8:39
references.pmid: 23044218
references.citation: J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2007 Mar 14;3:12
references.pmid: 17355645
references.citation: J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Dec 6;108(3):332-9
references.pmid: 16879938
references.citation: Trop Anim Health Prod. 2010 Jan;42(1):27-33
references.pmid: 19548106
references.citation: Soc Sci Med. 1998 Dec;47(11):1859-71
references.pmid: 9877354
references.citation: J Parasitol. 2002 Aug;88(4):678-83
references.pmid: 12197113
references.citation: Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1985 Nov;81(2):220-30
references.pmid: 4060151
references.citation: Trop Anim Health Prod. 2009 Oct;41(7):1267-73
references.pmid: 19194779
references.citation: J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Nov 3;108(1):152-4
references.pmid: 16730420
references.citation: Trop Anim Health Prod. 2012 Apr;44(4):757-62
references.pmid: 21870062
references.citation: Trop Anim Health Prod. 2008 Dec;40(8):637-42
references.pmid: 18975128
references.citation: Equine Vet J. 2011 Mar;43(2):126-32
references.pmid: 21592204
references.citation: J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Sep 2;119(1):185-90
references.pmid: 18657602
references.citation: J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2010 Aug 11;6:20
references.pmid: 20701760
references.citation: Trop Anim Health Prod. 2009 Dec;41(8):1685-93
references.pmid: 19462254