title: Traditional plant-based remedies to control gastrointestinal disorders in livestock in the regions of Kamina and Kaniama (Katanga province, Democratic Republic of Congo).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastrointestinal parasitic diseases present one of the main constraints hindering the productivity of the livestock sector (goat and cattle). Due to the limited availability and affordability of deworming drugs, traditional herbal remedies are still frequently used. The study aims at collecting traditional knowledge on local plants and remedies used to treat gastrointestinal parasitoses in livestock in two adjacent territories (Haut-Lomami district).
  
  
  METHODS
  A field survey was carried out in a part of the Haut-Lomami district (province of Katanga). A semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview 44 people including farmers, traditional healers and livestock specialists (veterinarians and agronomist), identified as using or practicing traditional medicine. To prepare botanically identified herbarium specimens, cited plants were collected with the participation of interviewed people.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although interviewed people cannot precisely identify the etiology of gastrointestinal disorders/parasitoses in domestic animals, they treat the condition with herbals collected in their near environment. Nineteen different traditional remedies were collected and described; 9 plant species were identified as commonly used to treat gastrointestinal parasitic infections. From these, Vitex thomasii De Wild (Verbenaceae) appears as the plant most often used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey contributed to the establishment of an inventory of plants used in livestock parasitic treatment in this region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Future studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of these traditional remedies.
authors.affiliation: Université de Lubumbashi (UNILU), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, B.P. 1825 Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Okombe Embeya
authors.affiliation: Université de Lubumbashi (UNILU), Faculty of Sciences, B.P. 1825 Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Jean-Baptiste
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lumbu Simbi
authors.affiliation: Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Bromatology and Human Nutrition, CP 205-9, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stévigny
authors.affiliation: Université de Liège (ULg), Life Sciences Library, Avenue de l'Hôpital, 1, Bâtiment B35, 4000 Liège, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sandrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vandenput
authors.affiliation: Université de Lubumbashi (UNILU), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, B.P. 1825 Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Célestin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pongombo Shongo
authors.affiliation: Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Bromatology and Human Nutrition, CP 205-9, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium; Université de Mons (UMONS), Department of Therapeutic Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Bât. Mendeleiev, 19 Avenue Maistriau, 7000 Mons, Belgium. Electronic address: pierre.duez@umons.ac.be.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Duez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D006041:Goats; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016488:Medicine, African Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Ethnoveterinary; Gastrointestinal disorders; Livestock; Traditional medicine