Science in brief: Report on the first Havemeyer workshop on infectious diseases in working equids, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, November 2013.
Abstract: The working equid is of vital importance in many low-income countries
where horses, mules and donkeys are the primary means of transport and
traction. Notwithstanding basic husbandry and welfare needs, infectious
diseases compromise the health and welfare of these working animals,
which in turn threatens the livelihoods of the most vulnerable members
of society. A workshop on Infectious Diseases of Working Equids was held in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in November 2013, attended by 35 participants
representing academia, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs),
governmental institutions and the World Organization for Animal Health
(OIE). The aim of the workshop was to identify ways to reduce the burden of
infectious diseases in working equids worldwide. The specific workshop
goals were as follows: 1) to identify the global working equid population
and define its role in low-income countries with respect to food security,
poverty alleviation and gender equity; 2) to collate the current knowledge
of infectious diseases in working equids and identify key priority pathogens
responsible for high morbidity and mortality; 3) to identify current
diagnostic, surveillance, treatment and prevention strategies for infectious
diseases in working equids and identify gaps and strategies needed for
future control programmes; 4) to identify current and future roles and
responsibilities of various institutions and stakeholders in infectious
disease control of working equids and ways to engage them in effective
disease reduction; and 5) to identify key focus areas with the greatest
opportunities for impact on the occurrence of infectious diseases affecting
working equids and form consensus opinions on the future goals and
strategies to reduce the impact of infectious diseases on working equids.
Workshop presentations focused on the role of working equids and their
impact on livelihoods, priority infectious diseases, surveillance and disease
control strategies, regulatory policies, the role of institutions in disease
control, research gaps and funding opportunities. This workshop report
focuses on the following 3 areas: working equids and their role in
livelihoods; infectious diseases of working equids; and solutions and
strategies for the future.
Publication Date: 2014-09-27 PubMed ID: 25257182DOI: 10.1111/evj.12359Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The abstract summarizes a workshop held in Ethiopia to discuss and strategize about infectious diseases in working equids (horses, mules, donkeys). The attendees aimed to identify the impact of these diseases on low-income countries, define prevention strategies, and suggest future disease control programs to ensure the wellbeing of these essential transportation animals.
Worldwide Importance of Working Equids
- The abstract begins by emphasizing the importance of working equids such as horses, mules and donkeys, especially in low-income countries. These animals are often the primary mode of transportation and traction (pulling loads), playing a crucial role in the local economy and livelihood of individuals.
- With improper husbandry and welfare, these animals are often exposed to numerous infectious diseases compromising their health. This not only affects the animal welfare but also threatens the livelihoods of the owners, frequently the most vulnerable members of those societies.
The Aims of the Workshop
- The workshop held in Addis Ababa in November 2013 aimed to find potential solutions to this significant issue. The participants from academia, non-governmental organizations, governmental institutions and the World Organization for Animal Health tried to identify ways to decrease the disease burden in working equids.
- The participants aimed to 1) define the role of working equids in low-income countries, especially in terms of food security, poverty alleviation, and gender equity; 2) identify the critical infectious diseases affecting these animals and the pathogens causing high levels of illness and death; 3) find current and potentially new methods for diagnosis, surveillance, treatment, and prevention of these diseases; 4) define the roles of different institutions and stakeholders in controlling these diseases; and 5) find areas of focus to have the greatest impact for change and reach consensus on future goals.
Workshop Outcomes
- During the workshop, several presentations emphasized the importance of working equids in sustaining livelihoods. They also focused on identifying priority diseases, disease control strategies, regulatory policies, the role of institutions in controlling the disease, research gaps and potential funding opportunities.
- Overall, the workshop’s findings emphasized the significance of working equids in low-income countries, the impact of infectious diseases on these animals and their owners, & strategies for monitoring, controlling, and preventing these diseases in the future.
Cite This Article
APA
Stringer A, Lunn DP, Reid S.
(2014).
Science in brief: Report on the first Havemeyer workshop on infectious diseases in working equids, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, November 2013.
Equine Vet J, 47(1), 6-9.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12359 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA), London, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Communicable Disease Control / methods
- Communicable Disease Control / standards
- Communicable Diseases / economics
- Communicable Diseases / epidemiology
- Communicable Diseases / veterinary
- Developing Countries
- Equidae
- Ethiopia
Citations
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