Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Important Diseases of Small Ruminants in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Review with a Focus on Current Strategies for Treatment and Control in Smallholder Systems.

Kimeli P, Mwacalimba K, Tiernan R, Mijten E, Miroshnychenko T, Poulsen Nautrup B.

Animals (Basel) · 2025

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Summary

This narrative review examines the principal diseases affecting small ruminants — likely including peste des petits ruminants, contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, gastrointestinal parasitism, and foot-and-mouth disease — within the context of sub-Saharan African smallholder systems. It critically assesses current strategies for disease treatment and control, with attention to the practical and resource limitations faced by smallholder producers. The review is likely intended to inform veterinary practitioners, policymakers, and development organisations working to improve small ruminant productivity and rural livelihoods in the region.

UK applicability

The findings are primarily relevant to sub-Saharan African smallholder livestock contexts and have limited direct applicability to UK farming conditions; however, they may be of relevance to UK-based development agencies, veterinary researchers working on transboundary animal diseases, or policy bodies concerned with global animal health security.

Key measures

Disease prevalence and impact; treatment protocols; control strategy effectiveness; smallholder system constraints

Outcomes reported

The review likely identifies and characterises the most significant infectious and parasitic diseases affecting sheep and goats in sub-Saharan Africa, reporting on current treatment and control options available within smallholder contexts, including constraints such as limited veterinary access and drug availability.

Theme
Farming systems, soils & land use
Subject
Livestock health & disease management
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Sub-Saharan Africa
System type
Mixed livestock
DOI
10.3390/ani15050706
Catalogue ID
NRmo3f02hq-07w

Topic tags

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