Estimating the Financial Impact of Livestock Schistosomiasis on Traditional Subsistence and Transhumance Farmers Keeping Cattle, Sheep and Goats in Northern Senegal

Abstract

Abstract Background: Schistosomiasis is a disease that poses major threats to human and animal health, as well as the economy, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Furthermore, its zoonotic nature and the presence of hybrid species complicate efforts to achieve the new World Health Organization’s roadmap for neglected tropical diseases target of elimination. Whilst many studies have evaluated the economic impact of schistosomiasis in humans, only one has been performed to date in livestock in SSA and none in Senegal. The aim of this study was to estimate the financial impact of livestock schistosomiasis in selected regions of Senegal.Methods: Stochastic partial budget models were developed in RiskAmp add-in for Excel for a one-year period to estimate the disease costs on local traditional farmers in twelve villages from the Lac de Guiers and Barkedji regions, Senegal. Disease costs were the sum of disease losses and expenditures and included reduced income due to production losses (e.g. reduced milk yield), expenditures saved (e.g. concentrate feed saved due to disease), additional costs (e.g. testing and treatment, buying replacement animals), and additional income (e.g. selling of diseased animals). The models were parameterised using primary data from cross-sectional surveys and focus group discussions, as well as secondary data from scientific literature and available statistics. Two scenarios were defined based on the most common practices reported: scenario 1 modelled a situation in which the farmers tested and treated their livestock for schistosomiasis; whilst scenario 2 modelled a situation in which there was no tests nor treatment. The model was run with 10,000 iterations for a period of one year; results were expressed in XOF, i.e., the West African CFA franc (1 XOF is equivalent to 0.0014 GBP) with the median and 95% confidence range. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the impact of uncertain variables on the output. Results: For scenario 1, the median disease costs per year and head of cattle, sheep, and goats, respectively, were estimated at XOF -13,408, XOF -27,227 and XOF -27,694. For scenario 2, the disease costs per year and head of cattle, sheep, and goats, respectively, were estimated at XOF -49,296 , XOF -70,072 and XOF -70,281. Sensitivity analyses indicated that the market prices for young and adult, healthy and sick animals had the biggest impact on the disease costs for all species.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the financial impact of livestock schistosomiasis on traditional subsistence and transhumance farmers in North Senegal is substantial. Consequently, treating livestock schistosomiasis with an effective control strategy has the potential to generate substantial benefits to farmers and their families. Our results can also serve as a baseline for future cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness analyses for potential regional treatment campaigns for schistosomiasis in livestock.