Ethnozoological Study of Traditional Medicinal Animals and Their Products Used by The People of South Achefer District, Northern Ethiopia

Background: There is an ancient history that human beings are familiar with use of animals and plants for food, cloth, medicine, etc. In Ethiopia, many ethnic communities which are dispersed all over the country has been totally dependent on local traditional medicinal system for their health care. Thus, the aim of this study was to take an ethnozoological field survey among different ethnic groups that live in South Achefer district. In order to document the ethno zoological information about animal and their parts/ products prevalent among the people in South Achefer district, a study was carried out from September, 2019 to January, 2020.Methods: Data was collected through questionnaire, focus group discussion and semi-structured questionnaire with 64 purposively selected respondents. Result: Ethnozoological data was recorded local name of the animals, animal products used, mode of preparation and administration Based on the ethno zoological survey, a total of 30 animal species were used in 42 different medicinal purposes including cold, night blindness, cough, paralysis and rheumatism and for other religious/and spiritual purposes. Based on the ethno zoological survey, 11 mammals, 7 birds, 4 reptile, 5 arthropods, 2 fish, 1 annelids are used in traditional zootherauptics in the study area. Furthermore, the milk of goat used to relieved cough has the highest FL (92%) and elephant teeth has the lowest FL (22%) used to treat bad spirit.Discussion: The results showed that ethno zoological practices have been an important alternative medicinal practice for the people residing in the study area. So, there is an urgent need to properly document to keep a record of the ethno zoological knowledge of the area. It is hoped that this information will be useful for further research in the field of ethno zoology, ethno pharmacology and conservation point of view.

Documentation of Traditional Knowledge Associated with Medicinal Animals in West Gojjam Zone of Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Background In Ethiopia, Ethnozoology and Zootherapeutic research is very limited and little attention has been given.The study was designed to investigate and document traditional knowledge associated with medicinal animals in West Gojjam Zone of Javitenan, North Achefer, and Bahir Dar Zuria districts.Methods Ethnozoological data were collected using structured questionnaires and use value (UV), informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL), preferential ranking, and paired comparison were analyzed.Results A total of 26 animal species and were identified and recorded as a source medicine to treat 33 types of ailments. Animal derived medicines of Bos indicus , Trigona spp . and Apis mellifera were frequently reported species to treat various ailments. Bos indicus , Trigona spp ., Apis mellifera , Hyaenidae carnivora , and Labeobarbus spp . were the most frequent use value reports (84%, 52%, 43%, 37% and 36%) respectively. Informants reported 25 animal parts to treat ailments. Honey and meat took the highest frequency use report followed by purified butter, Milk, Liver, fatty meat and Cheese stored more than 7 year were described with average ICF value of 69%. Maximum degree of consensus was developed for remedy of evil eye (88%) followed by dry cough, swelling and hepatitis 82% each. Use of animal derived medicine from Liotrigona spp . used to relive dry-cough tend to have the highest FL (80%); followed by Labeobarbus spp . for swelling (33%) and Trigona spp . for dry-cough (30%). Paired comparisons revealed that purified butter > 2 year, Cheese > 7 year, honey of Liotrigona spp . (Yetinign Tazma), and honey of Trigona spp . (Tazma) were the most popular and efficacious animal-derived medicines to cure malaria and ranked 1st , 2nd , 3rd and 4th , respectively.Conclusion and recommendation results of this study recorded the most popular animal derived medicine to cure various ailments. Thus, government must strengthen traditional healers with training, club formation, material and financial support and improve means of protecting their intellectual property rights. Moreover, chemists and pharmacists should be undergo a detailed study to identify which chemical constituent of animal and animal product is responsible for the respective treatment of ailments in the study area.

Uso de animais na medicina popular: Diagnóstico sociocultural e etnozoológico na zona rural de Jaçanã (RN)

The use of animals or their parts in obtaining and preparing medicines for the treatment of diseases is approached by one of the branches of ethnozoology, zootherapy. The studies in zootherapy aim to discover new drugs. It is a broad field of research that involves aspects of ecology, anthropology and sociology, being particularly important for the pharmacological industries and for the elaboration of strategies of management and conservation of the fauna. The present study aimed make an inventory of the species of animals used for medicinal purposes in the rural area of the municipality of Jaçanã - RN. The information was obtained through semi-structured forms complemented by free interviews and informal conversations applied to 54 residents. Seventeen species of zooterapeutic animals were indicated to the treatment of 35 diseases. The highest values of use were found in chicken (Gallus gallus) and teju (Salvator merianae). Eight animal feedstock were registered, with fat (n=72) being the most used part. None of the registered species are threatened or at risk of extinction, but overexploitation of these animals may lead to population decline (of Salvator merianae) and ecological imbalance. The use of medicinal animals in the researched area is mainly driven by the belief in the efficiency of the zootherapies.