ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Much of the information present in this handbook is based on research papers published in journals, country reports and papers presented at conferences, workshops and symposia dealing with management systems and diseases of small-ruminants in the sub-Saharan region. The authors are very grateful to the immeasurable efforts of many scientists who have devoted much of their time in documenting the management systems and diseases of small ruminants with particular reference to those occurring in the sub-Saharan region. Without these valuable sources, it would have not been possible to compile the handbook. In order to avoid cluttering the text, these references have not been given in the text, but a list of references is given at the end of each chapter. The contribution of other authors of veterinary literature from different parts of the world which supplement or complement the literature in the sub-Saharan region is highly appreciated. The particular inputs of Dr Leslie J.S. Harrison and Mr Chris J. Daborn of the Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine (Edinburgh, UK) and, Dr Richard W. Matthewman of the Natural Resource Institute (Kent, UK) are greatly acknowledged.

The publication of this handbook has been possible with the kind support of VETAID, Scotland as part of extension materials prepared for the veterinary extension staff under an ODA (UK) funded project on Management Systems and Health Problems of Goats in Morogoro Region, Tanzania which was managed by VETAID. We hope that veterinarians in other countries will also find the handbook a valuable source of information.

L.J.M. Kusiluka D.M. Kambarage November 1995

Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health
Sokoine University of Agriculture Morogoro, Tanzania.

INTRODUCTION

The main constraints hindering the productivity of the livestock sector in most sub-Saharan countries are diseases; poor nutrition; poor breeding policies and poor management. The common diseases which affect goats and sheep in sub-Saharan countries are helminthosis, peste des petits ruminants, contagious ecthyma, goat/sheep pox, pneumonia, anthrax, blackquarter, footrot, caseous lymphadenitis and brucellosis. Other diseases include heartwater, coccidiosis, trypanosomosis, Nairobi sheep disease, Rift Valley fever, blue tongue, mastitis and tuberculosis. Mange mites, fleas, ticks, lice and Oestrus ovis are the major ectoparasites infesting small ruminants in the region. Physical injuries and chemical or plant poisoning are reported to occur in occasional incidences. Malnutrition is the major non-infectious cause of unthriftiness in goats.

The motive behind the publication of this handbook has been the scarcity of easily accessible literature on small ruminant health in the sub-Saharan region particularly to the field veterinarians and animal scientists. Most often, scientific literature published in journals is collected in libraries in universities and research institutions to which workers in the extension service have little access. Therefore, this handbook is an attempt to extend the accumulated knowledge on diseases of goats and sheep in sub-Saharan Africa to field workers. It is also suitable for students undertaking veterinary or small ruminant health- related studies in the region. The handbook is written in a straight forward and easily understandable manner. Emphasis is on the most commonly reported diseases of goats and sheep but some of the less common conditions and those with a great potential to occur have also been mentioned. Since the occurrence of diseases in animals is greatly influenced by the management systems used, an introductory chapter on management systems is included. A list of references is provided at the end of each chapter so that the reader can get more details on aspects which have not been covered in much detail in the handbook. Authors are of the opinion that consultation of literature given under the list of references for further details will greatly complement the handbook.