Since the livelihood of the community is mainly depending on mixed crop and livestock production, livestock is the major agricultural resource in the area [16]. The questionnaire survey and discussion with key informants indicated that there are different types of protozoan diseases in this area such as dourine, coccidiosis, and babesiosis which hinder the productivity of animals and cause economic loss to the community. In addition to this finding, it was reported that both animal owners and professionals interviewed in the area stated that dourine is a major health problem of horses causing high mortality and economic loss [10].
However, the present study disclosed that the presence of veterinary services and the amount of veterinary inputs particularly antiprotozoal drugs is not sufficiently available in the area because, the assessment revealed only three types of antiprotozoal drugs namely; Diminazine diaceturate, Amprolium, and sulfa drugs. These drugs are imported from different countries with different trade names. Among the current available antiprotozoal drugs in the area, those manufactured and imported from China were highly distributed in the majority of veterinary drug shops.
According to the result and discussion with key informants, Diminazine diaceturate is one of the known and relatively highly purchased drugs by local farmers which is mainly used to treat dourine contracted horses. It can be indicated against several species of trypanosomes and piroplasms for cattle, camels, sheep, goats, and pigs. Although it is found with different trade names, DIMAZNC originated from China was distributed among 69.2% of the total drug stores assessed in the area. It was available in the form of powder (sachet) containing 2.36 grams of active hydrosoluble granules to be dissolved in 15ml of water for one intramuscular injection at a dosage of 3.5mg/kg (1ml/20kg). Diminazine diaceturate is not an effective treatment to cure clinical cases of dourine [18]. However, the absence of other qualified and curative therapeutic agents in the area against diseases like dourine makes Diminazine diaceturate as a sole treatment option by animal health professionals and the local farmers.
Amprolium is an anticoccidial drug used as therapeutic, prophylactic, and growth promotion especially in poultry. Chinese imported Amprolium present as AMPROLIUM 20% was found distributed among 76.9% of the total observed drug stores in the area. Amprolium imported from Jordan was also available as JOPROX® (Amprolium HCL, Sulphaquinoxaline sodium, and vitamin K3) and JOPROL 20%® (Amprolium HCl). This drug is available in powder form and can be given in drinking water for poultry and ruminants mainly calves.
Sulfa drugs are broad-spectrum drugs that are used against bacteria and coccidian parasites. It is found in the form of Sulphadimidine sodium imported from China and Trisulpha forte® (Sulphadimidine sodium, Sulphadiazine sodium, and Sulphathiazole sodium) imported from Jordan which were found distributed in 61.5% and 15% of observed drug stores respectively. Sulphadimidine sodium was found in 100ml veal to be injected parenterally whereas Trisulpha forte® was found as a 100gram powder form to be given in drinking water for 3 days at a dosage of 4-5gram/50kg for large animals and 5gram/20liter for poultry.
Governmental sources, private legal traders, and illegal drug sellers are the sources of antiprotozoal drugs supply in the Asella district. The result of the questionnaire and discussion with key informants indicated that about 50% of antiprotozoal drugs are sourced from governmental drug stores, about 45% from private legal traders, and the remaining 5% from illegal drug sellers. The drugs from these sources reach end-users through distribution via veterinary clinics and pharmacies as well as illegal black markets found in the area.
The governmental and private sources get the drugs from distributors in the capital city of the country, Addis Ababa, and other nearby cities such as Adama whereas illegal drug smugglers get the drugs from retailers without any legal license and from the black market inside and outside the country. Also, the questionnaire survey from animal owners revealed that out of 50 respondents 7(14%) were buying drugs from open markets supplied by illegal drug smugglers. Discussion with key informants showed that there are illegal drug smugglers who sell drugs in open markets and other shops in the area. However, these drug smugglers were not visually observed in the market during the study time.
Assessment of the knowledge, awareness, and practices of animal health professionals and farmers towards safe handling and management of antiprotozoal drugs using a structured questionnaire showed that there are many awareness problems and inappropriate practices. The result indicated 70% of the professionals had no enough knowledge and awareness on safe handling and management of drugs starting from acquisition to end-user. All the professionals diagnose animals suffering from protozoan diseases tentatively and determine the dose of the drugs by estimating animal’s age and body weight. 80% of the professionals did not follow up and complete the treatment of animals. On the other hand, 64% of the farmers administer drugs that were bought from nearby veterinary pharmacies and 14% from open markets when their animals became suffering from protozoan diseases.
It is noted that public transport and storing drugs without referring the manufacturer’s direction can expose the drugs to sunlight, unadjusted temperature, humidity, and other conditions including physical damage to the containers which disturbs the stability of the drugs. However, the vast majority of the respondents (90%) use a public vehicle to transport drugs and 85% do not store drugs according to the manufacturer’s direction. The other most critical and unethical practices in the area were selling drugs without the prescription, not informing the drug withdrawal period, and allowing nonprofessionals to administer drugs by themselves. However, 90% of the professionals were found selling drugs without a prescription and did not properly inform the drug’s withdrawal period in which they did not advise end users about the potential effect of drug residue on public health. Moreover, the questionnaire survey revealed that 50% of professionals and 66% of farmers replied as drugs were administered by nonprofessionals (experienced local farmers and farmers themselves). But, 62% of the interviewed animal owners did not have formal education which indicated that they could not read and understand the information on the leaflets of the drugs and unable to get the dose rate and expiry date indicated on the leaflets. These conditions facilitate drug misuse and abuse, drug resistance, and unexpected outcome in both animal and human health.
Even though the purpose, dosage, method of administration, contraindication, and other conditions of the drugs is not clear to the sellers and users if it is not accompanied through prescription. Desta, [4] discussion with the key informants showed that farmers buy drugs without prescription from pharmacies and also open markets easily and they put it in their house for a long period and have been practicing drug administration by themselves for treating their animals. Most of the farmers' treatment practice didn’t follow the proper dosage and site of injection and they give under dosage of drugs on the basis to treat numerous animals at a time with the available amount of drug and on the other hand, they give overdosage on the basis to relieve animal pain within a short period. They believe that all drugs are functional for long period and used at any time.
Generally, the above conditions collectively showed that there were deep-rooted problems in the proper handling and management of veterinary drugs in general and antiprotozoal drugs in particular. This all are due to the knowledge gap in professionals and awareness problems in the community that can potentially affect the drug’s quality, safety, and effectiveness. If the drugs are not handled and administered properly, there will be drug ineffectiveness that leads to high morbidity and mortality of animals that directly affects the life of the community [4]. The other potential threat of this improper drug handling and administration by nonprofessionals is drug-resistance development in which finally no drug will be left for treatment in the area because of the variety of antiprotozoal drugs commonly used in the area are very few.