Summary
This cross-sectional survey of 558 households in two Tanzanian districts quantified the economic burden of cerebral coenurosis in small ruminants and assessed farmer knowledge and attitudes towards disease control. Despite nearly 90% awareness of the disease, average knowledge scores were low (36.6%), yet 94% of respondents expressed willingness to participate in and fund control programmes. The findings suggest that targeted educational interventions on epidemiology and control could catalyse community-led, sustainable management of this economically significant zoonotic parasitosis.
UK applicability
Cerebral coenurosis is rare in the UK due to higher standards of animal husbandry and meat inspection, and this study's focus on subsistence pastoral systems in East Africa has limited direct policy applicability. However, the methodology for assessing knowledge-practice gaps and community willingness-to-pay could inform disease control strategy design in resource-constrained settings globally.
Key measures
Annual economic losses (TZS and USD), household-level financial burden, knowledge score (out of 16), awareness prevalence (%), willingness to participate in control (%), attitude and practice indicators
Outcomes reported
The study quantified annual economic losses from cerebral coenurosis in two Tanzanian districts and assessed farmers' knowledge, attitudes and control practices. It found substantial household financial losses and identified a gap between disease awareness and practical knowledge that could inform targeted control interventions.
Topic tags
Dig deeper with Pulse AI.
Pulse AI has read the whole catalogue. Ask about this record, its theme, or how the findings apply to UK farming and policy — every answer cites the underlying studies.