Medicinal plants used to control internal and external parasites in goats

By:Sanhokwe, M (Sanhokwe, Marcia)^{[ 1 ]} ; Mupangwa, J (Mupangwa, Johnfisher)^{[ 1 ]} ; Masika, PJ (Masika, Patrick J.)^{[ 2 ]} ; Maphosa, V (Maphosa, Viola)^{[ 1 ]} ; Muchenje, V (Muchenje, Voster)^{[ 1 ]}

ONDERSTEPOORT JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH

Volume: 83

Issue: 1

Article Number: a1016

DOI: 10.4102/ojvr.v83i1.1016

Published: APR 29 2016

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Abstract

The use of medicinal plants plays a major role in the primary health care of animals in South Africa. A survey was conducted to document medicinal plants used to control parasites in goats in Kwezi and Ntambethemba villages in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Information from 50 farmers and 3 herbalists was obtained through the use of a structured questionnaire, and a snowball sampling technique was used to identify key informants. The obtained data were analysed using PROC FREQ of SAS (2003), and fidelity level values were determined to estimate the healing potential of the mentioned plants. The survey revealed nine plant species belonging to eight families that were used to control parasites in goats. Asphodelaceae (22.22%) was the most frequently used plant family. Leaves were the most used plant parts, constituting 60.38%. They were prepared either as infusions or decoctions of single plants or in mixtures. Aloe ferox, Acokanthera oppositifolia and Elephantorrhiza elephantina were the plants having the highest fidelity level for their use to control parasites, each scoring 100%, followed by Albuca setosa (83.33%). The study revealed low knowledge about ethno-veterinary medicine in the study area. It also revealed that information on ethno-veterinary medicine in this area is mostly confined to older people and there is danger that this knowledge can be lost before being passed on to other generations. Therefore, there is an urgent need to document information on these plant species so that the future generation can benefit. Further investigation should be carried out to validate the efficacy and safety of the above-mentioned plants so as to provide cheap alternative ways of controlling parasites.

Keywords

KeyWords Plus:EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE; TRADITIONAL VETERINARY-MEDICINE; COMMUNAL FARMING SYSTEMS; SOUTH-AFRICA; GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITES; ETHNOVETERINARY MEDICINE; LIVESTOCK DISEASES; SPEAKING PEOPLE; FARMERS; PREVALENCE

Author Information

Reprint Address: Mupangwa, J (reprint author)

Univ Ft Hare Alice, Dept Livestock & Pasture Sci, Ft Hare, South Africa.

Addresses:

	[ 1 ] Univ Ft Hare Alice, Dept Livestock & Pasture Sci, Ft Hare, South Africa
	[ 2 ] Ft Cox Coll Agr & Forestry, Middledrift, South Africa

E-mail Addresses:jmupangwa@ufh.ac.za

Funding

Funding Agency	Grant Number
National Research Foundation	T219

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Publisher

AOSIS, POSTNET SUITE 55, PRIVATE BAG X22, TYGERVALLEY, CAPE TOWN, 00000, SOUTH AFRICA

Categories / Classification

Research Areas:Veterinary Sciences

Web of Science Categories:Veterinary Sciences

Document Information

Document Type:Article

Language:English

Accession Number: WOS:000377613200001

PubMed ID: 27247061

ISSN: 0030-2465

eISSN: 2219-0635