Challenges to Controlling Epidemic and Endemic Infectious Diseases of Horses in Developing Countries

Epidemic and endemic disease of equids in developing countries are diverse and prevalent, hence their impact on animal health, animal production and household security is greater than elsewhere. Successful control has many challenges and requires a holistic approach that involves surveillance, control measures that are cost effective, practical and locally acceptable and recognition by livestock owners that control is necessary and/or beneficial. The impact that animal disease can have on the poor means that disease control can be important part of poverty alleviation. Constraints to control include scarce animal health provision, suboptimal co-operation between livestock owners and animal health authorities and the low status of equids, in particular the donkey, in many countries. As most users of working equids are impoverished another major constraint is finance and who should pay for disease control measures. The state may not be able to afford large scale programmes and may prioritise services toward food producing livestock. Therefore international donor assisted programmes may be the main source of funding; however these may not be sustainable in the long term […]